Former President Donald Trump has made recent investments in the corporate bonds of Netflix and Warner Bros. Revelation, totaling $2 million, as the two entertainment companies navigate a critically important merger agreement. The investments, disclosed in a financial report released Thursday, arrive shortly after Trump publicly questioned a potential sale of Warner, signaling a complex dynamic amid ongoing industry consolidation. The proposed deal, currently valued at $82.7 billion, is poised to dramatically alter the competitive landscape of the streaming market.
Former President Donald Trump recently invested in corporate bonds from Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), each valued at $1 million, just days after the entertainment giants announced a major merger agreement. The move comes as the proposed deal continues to draw scrutiny from industry rivals and regulators.
Trump had previously characterized the potential sale of Warner to Netflix as a “problem,” amid a broader competitive landscape that also includes Paramount. The proposed merger is poised to reshape the streaming landscape, intensifying competition for viewers and content.
A financial disclosure report released by the White House on Thursday evening detailed two Netflix bond transactions, each valued between $250,000 and $500,000, executed on December 12 and December 16.
The document also revealed comparable bond purchases from Discovery Communications LLC, a subsidiary of WBD, for the same amount on December 16. These transactions were among nearly 200 reported by the former president between November 14 and December 19.
Netflix and WBD reached an initial agreement on December 5 for Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for approximately $82.7 billion, a combination of cash, stock, and debt.
The offer, valued at $27.75 per share, includes $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix stock for each share of WBD, along with a stake in the soon-to-be-separated Discovery Global unit.
The agreement sparked criticism and prompted a competing bid from Paramount on December 8, valuing the studio at $108.4 billion. Paramount’s offer encompasses WBD’s film and television studios, as well as a vast content library featuring popular franchises like ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Game of Thrones.’
Following evaluations of offers from Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix, the WBD board ultimately decided to pursue a deal with Netflix.
According to a Bloomberg report, Trump also purchased bonds from General Motors, Boeing, CoreWeave, Occidental Petroleum, and United Rentals, as well as municipal bonds from various cities, school districts, and hospitals.
In total, Trump’s personal investments amounted to $51 million during the reported period.
