
Ted Sarandos ignores Trump's demand to remove Susan Rice from Netflix board
Ted Sarandos ignores Trump's demand to remove Susan Rice from Netflix board
- President Donald Trump called for Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice, describing her as a political hack.
- Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, dismissed Trump's demand and characterized the incident as 'noise' coming from social media.
- The tension reflects larger concerns about political retribution and corporate accountability in the current political climate.
Story
In late February 2026, President Donald Trump publicly called for Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice, labeling her as a 'racist' and 'political hack'. This call was made via his Truth Social account and followed comments from Rice which hinted at potential political retribution against companies that aligned with Trump's agenda. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos responded to Trump's remarks by stating that he didn't believe the demands had crossed a serious line and categorized them as 'noise'. Sarandos emphasized the importance of separating constructive dialogue from social media outbursts by political figures. He acknowledged the political landscape’s impact on businesses and expressed the significance of discussions between industry leaders and government officials. Meanwhile, Rice, a former national security adviser, has received backlash for her past comments regarding possible consequences for organizations that cooperate with Trump. December 2025 marked her return to Netflix’s board after previously serving under Obama before joining the Biden administration. Senator John Kennedy condemned her remarks, alluding to a troubling trend of political retribution and urging both parties to avoid using governmental power against their opponents. He pointed out that Rice’s comments implied a tactic of payback, stating that such actions could set dangerous precedents. This dialogue hints at a growing concern over the politicization of corporate relationships under the current administration.