Trump Demands Netflix Oust Susan Rice After Accountability Warning

President Donald Trump is taking aim at Netflix and at one of its most prominent board members.

In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump called on Netflix to immediately fire former national security adviser Susan Rice, blasting her as “racist” and “Trump deranged” following remarks she made about holding corporations accountable if Democrats return to power.

“Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences,” Trump wrote. “She’s got no talent or skills Purely a political hack!”

The clash adds fuel to a growing cultural and political battle between corporate America and the White House.

Rice, who served as national security adviser under President Barack Obama, recently appeared on a podcast hosted by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. During the discussion, she warned that corporations, universities, law firms, and media organizations that “take a knee to Trump” could face scrutiny if Democrats regain power.

“They’re going to be held accountable,” Rice said. “They better be ready for subpoenas.”

While Rice emphasized that any investigations would be rooted in alleged unlawful conduct, she also suggested Democrats would not “play by the old rules” when it comes to institutions that cooperated with Trump’s administration.

Her comments were widely interpreted as a warning to major corporate players navigating relationships with the White House.

Rice has served on Netflix’s board since 2018. The streaming giant, which boasts more than 260 million global subscribers, is currently navigating a proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner’s movie and television studios and HBO Max a deal already under review by the Department of Justice for potential antitrust concerns.

Trump’s call to remove Rice comes at a sensitive time for the company.

Major mergers often require regulatory approval, and federal scrutiny is already intensifying across the tech and entertainment sectors. According to industry data, media consolidation deals exceeding $50 billion routinely trigger extended DOJ reviews.

Critics argue that Rice’s political comments could complicate Netflix’s public positioning during the regulatory process. Supporters counter that board members are entitled to express personal political opinions.

The dispute highlights a broader trend: corporate America increasingly finds itself entangled in partisan battles.

Over the past several years:

• Major companies have faced boycotts over political positions.

• CEOs have been pressured to speak out on social issues.

• Federal regulators have expanded antitrust enforcement across tech and media sectors.

Trump has repeatedly criticized large corporations he believes align with progressive political agendas. At the same time, some Democrats have openly discussed more aggressive oversight of businesses they believe undermine regulatory norms.

Rice’s comments about an “accountability agenda” amplified those tensions.

It remains unclear whether Netflix will respond publicly to Trump’s demand. Corporate governance decisions typically rest with shareholders and board leadership, not political figures.

Still, the episode underscores the increasingly blurred line between business leadership and partisan politics. With a $72 billion merger proposal under federal review and a heated election cycle underway, the stakes for Netflix and for companies navigating Washington are high.

Whether this confrontation escalates further may depend on how aggressively both sides choose to engage.

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