Netflix co-CEO Sarandos to visit White House to discuss Warner Bros bid, Politico reports

February 25 (Reuters) – netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos will attend meetings at the White House on Thursday to discuss the streaming giant’s offer to buy the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery and President Donald Trump’s request to oust board member Susan Rice, Politico reported Wednesday.

In the heated takeover battle, Netflix offered $27.75 per share, or $82.7 billion, for Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming assets. extraordinary He escalated the fight on Monday with a higher offer of $31 per share for the entire company.

Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump demanded the dismissal of Netflix board member Rice after she said companies that “kneed” him could face consequences if Democrats came back to power.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Netflix “must IMMEDIATELY fire racist, Trump-deranged Susan Rice or pay the consequences” and referenced a post by right-wing activist Laura Loomer that said she should cancel the Netflix-Warner Bros deal.

However, Trump signed a contract with Warner Bros. earlier this month. He said he would stay out of the fight and leave the matter to the Justice Department, reversing his stance late last year when he said he would be involved in reviewing the deal.

It is not yet clear whether Sarandos will meet with Trump on Thursday, the Politico report said, citing two people familiar with the discussions.

The Justice Department’s antitrust division is reviewing the proposed Netflix transaction and a rival, hostile bid from Paramount.

The division head’s recent departure has created uncertainty about enforcement at a time when companies are intensifying lobbying around major merger cases.

Paramount’s CEO is David Ellison, whose father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has developed a close relationship with Trump.

(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Shinjini Ganguli)