Trump Calls for Susan Rice’s Removal from Netflix Board
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Donald Trump has requested that Netflix remove Susan Rice, a board member and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security advisor, from its board. The request came in response to Rice’s comments regarding the responsibility of Democrats if they return to power.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday: “Netflix must immediately fire Susan Rice, a racist and Trump-obsessed lunatic, or face the consequences. She has no talent or skill, just a pure political pawn. Her power is gone and will never return. How much are they paying her, and for what? Thank you for your attention. President DJT.”
Rice, on the podcast Preet Bharara, said that for the interests of companies, law firms, and media outlets, “it won’t end well.” She added: “Those who decided to act in their very narrow, short-term interests and kneel before Trump are now realizing: ‘Wait a minute. These actions are not popular with the people. Trump is not popular among the public.’”
She also said: “There will likely be a backlash in the opposite direction, and they will be caught in a far worse situation than just embarrassment. They will be held accountable by Trump opponents and those who win at the ballot box. If these companies think Democrats will play by the old rules and say it doesn’t matter when they return to power, forgiving you for everyone you fired, all the policies and principles you violated, all the laws you circumvented, I think they are very wrong.”
Rice, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. during Barack Obama’s first term and as National Security Advisor during his second term, commented on Democrats: “We will not play by the old rules when these people are playing by a completely different set of rules. We will act according to the law. We will not violate the law like they do. But we won’t be naïve either.”
Earlier in February, Trump told NBC News that his administration would not intervene in Netflix’s deal with Warner Bros. or Paramount’s competing offer to acquire all Warner Bros. Discovery assets. However, promises of sweeping changes at CNN, proposed by David Ellison, might tempt him to take sides. The former U.S. president has publicly praised Ted Sarandos following a meeting with him.
In early February, Sarandos testified under oath before the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee that after acquiring Warner Bros., the studio’s films would be released in theaters for 45 days as before. During the hearing, several Republicans pressed Sarandos on cultural issues, including Netflix’s transgender content.
