Trump invests amid mega-mergers: what is known about Netflix and Warner Bros bonds
20 January 17:18
US President Donald Trump purchased bonds worth up to $2 million from streaming platform Netflix and film company Warner Bros. Discovery a few weeks after the companies announced a possible merger. This was reported by Reuters, citing financial reports published at the end of last week, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
What happened
According to the declarations submitted, Donald Trump purchased bonds with a total value of about $100 million between mid-November and the end of December 2025. The majority of the portfolio consists of municipal bonds — debt securities issued by cities, school districts, hospitals, and utilities.
At the same time, corporate bonds of large American companies, including Boeing, Occidental Petroleum, General Motors, as well as Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, appeared on the list of assets.
Mergers and regulators
Investments in Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery securities took place against the backdrop of major corporate events in the media industry. In December, Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery announced an $82.7 billion deal to acquire film and television studios and related assets.
At the same time, Donald Trump publicly stated that as president, he would have a say in whether to approve such a deal. Any merger of this magnitude requires approval from US regulators.
The situation is further complicated by competition: at the end of December, Paramount Skydance raised its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets to $108.4 billion, but the corporation’s board of directors rejected it. Paramount Skydance then filed a lawsuit in Delaware, demanding disclosure of the financial calculations that formed the basis for supporting the deal with Netflix.
Conflict of interest
The White House insists that the president’s investments do not create a conflict of interest. According to an unnamed administration official, Trump’s stock and bond portfolio is managed by independent financial institutions. The president and his family members are not involved in investment decisions and cannot influence the allocation of funds.
