Trump Threatens Netflix with ‘Consequences’ Over Susan Rice Board Position

President Trump has called for the immediate firing of Netflix board member Susan Rice following her recent statements suggesting Democrats would hold corporations accountable for yielding to Republican pressure. The demand comes after Rice’s appearance on the “Stay Tuned with Preet” podcast, where she issued stark warnings to businesses she believes have compromised their values.

“This is not going to be an instance of forgive and forget. The damage that these people are doing is too severe to the American people and our national interest,” Rice stated during her conversation with former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

Trump’s response was direct, demanding Netflix terminate Rice’s position or “pay the consequences,” though the president did not elaborate on what specific actions his administration might take against the streaming giant. Netflix has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the president’s statements.

Rice, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama administration and later as a domestic policy advisor, took aim at what she described as corporate retreats from diversity and governance commitments amid pressure from Republican lawmakers.

“If these corporations think that the Democrats, when they come back into power, are going to, you know, play by the old rules, and, you know, say, ‘Oh, never mind. We’ll forgive you for all the people you fired, all the policies and principles you’ve violated, all, you know, the laws you’ve skirted.’ I think they’ve got another thing coming,” Rice elaborated during the podcast.

The escalating tension highlights the increasingly fraught relationship between major corporations and political powers. Companies like Netflix, which has approximately 231 million subscribers worldwide and a market capitalization exceeding $250 billion, find themselves caught in political crossfire as they navigate competing demands from different sides of the political spectrum.

Rice’s comments come at a time when numerous corporations have faced criticism for modifying diversity, equity and inclusion programs following pressure from conservative lawmakers and activist investors. Some companies have scaled back environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives in response to Republican-led state legislation targeting such corporate policies.

In her podcast appearance, Rice predicted Democrats would implement what she termed an “accountability agenda” for corporations that have abandoned progressive policies under pressure. She expressed confidence that public sentiment would shift in Democrats’ favor during the upcoming midterm elections, citing what she characterized as declining public approval for Trump’s economic and immigration policies.

The confrontation represents the latest chapter in the complex relationship between the Trump administration and the entertainment industry, which has frequently been at odds with the president’s policies. Netflix itself has often found itself in political debates due to controversial content and the political affiliations of its leadership and board members.

Rice joined Netflix’s board of directors in 2018 after her tenure in the Obama administration, bringing her foreign policy expertise to the streaming company as it expanded its global footprint. Her appointment initially drew criticism from conservative circles due to her role in the Obama administration’s handling of the 2012 Benghazi attack.

As the midterm elections approach, this exchange underscores the high stakes for corporations navigating America’s polarized political landscape, where decisions about corporate governance, diversity initiatives, and board composition increasingly carry political implications that can attract presidential attention and potential government scrutiny.