Donald Trump has demanded the immediate removal of Susan Rice from Netflix’s board, labelling the former Obama administration official “racist” over reported comments suggesting political retribution against supporters of the president.
Trump’s social media post on Truth Social followed a podcast appearance last week by Rice, a long-time critic of the former president. According to right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, Rice warned that entities which “take a knee” to Trump should expect to be “held accountable” if Democrats regain power. Trump called Rice a “political hack” and insisted Netflix fire her or “pay the consequences.”
Rice, who is Black, served as national security advisor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama. She also held senior roles in the Clinton and Biden administrations before rejoining Netflix’s board in 2023. Trump’s attack coincides with renewed scrutiny of his own rhetoric regarding race; he has frequently denied being racist despite longstanding criticism.
The incident emerges days after an official Trump campaign video featuring an AI-altered clip of Barack and Michelle Obama was widely condemned as racist. The video, which superimposed the Obamas’ faces on apes, was removed from Trump’s account after backlash, though Trump refused to apologise, stating he had not seen the post. The White House dismissed the criticism as “fake outrage.”
Some political and media analysts suggest Trump’s focus on Rice is connected to Netflix’s ongoing $43 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. They note a competing takeover offer for Warner Bros. Discovery comes from Paramount Skydance, whose CEO David Ellison is the son of major Trump donor Larry Ellison. This has raised questions about potential political influence in a high-stakes corporate merger.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos directly rejected Trump’s demand. “He likes to do a lot of things on social media… This is a business deal. It’s not a political deal,” Sarandos told BBC Radio 4, emphasising that the merger review is being handled by U.S. and international regulators.
The clash highlights the increasing intersection of political rhetoric and corporate governance. While Trump’s post amplified a personal and ideological conflict, Netflix’s leadership has framed the issue as one for regulatory authorities, not social media pressure. The outcome of the Warner Bros. Discovery bid, overseen by antitrust regulators, will proceed independently of the political commentary, according to the company’s stance. The episode underscores the volatile environment for corporate boards navigating polarised political landscapes.
