Executive Summary
- President Trump reposted a message calling Michelle Obama an "anti-white racist" and demanded Netflix fire Susan Rice.
- The President threatened "consequences" for Netflix, while activist Laura Loomer urged the blocking of a Warner Bros.-Netflix merger.
- The attacks follow Rice's warning to corporations regarding their alignment with the current administration ahead of midterms.
- This incident follows a recent controversy involving an AI-generated video of the Obamas shared on the President's account.
President Donald Trump reposted a social media message on Saturday describing former First Lady Michelle Obama as an "anti-white racist" and issued a demand for Netflix to fire former National Security Adviser Susan Rice from its board. The posts on Truth Social mark an escalation in rhetoric against officials from the Obama administration as the White House prepares for the upcoming State of the Union address.
According to the social media activity, President Trump shared a post by activist Laura Loomer which characterized Mrs. Obama as an "anti-white racist." In a separate caption, the President directed his focus toward Susan Rice, who currently serves on the executive board of Netflix. "Netflix should fire racist, Trump Deranged Susan Rice, IMMEDIATELY, or pay the consequences," the President wrote.
Loomer’s post, which the President amplified, further urged the administration to intervene in a reported upcoming merger between Warner Bros. and Netflix. The activist argued that such a merger would expand the influence of the Obamas' production company, Higher Ground Productions, within the media landscape. Loomer warned that "positive messaging" regarding Democratic investigations into Trump would be distributed across streaming services if the influence of Higher Ground Productions continues to grow.
The targeting of Rice follows her recent appearance on a podcast hosted by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. During the interview, Rice warned corporations that they could face legislative consequences if Democrats retake the House and Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Rice stated that companies perceived as "cozying up" to the administration or violating principles would not be forgiven if political power shifts.
This latest controversy arises shortly after a separate incident involving the President's Truth Social account, where a bizarre AI-generated video depicted the former First Couple in a derogatory manner. President Trump subsequently denied personal responsibility for that specific post, attributing the error to staffer Natalie Harp, claiming the video was not fully vetted before publication. The administration later deleted the post following bipartisan criticism.
Governance and Corporate Implications
The President's direct engagement with corporate personnel decisions and the suggestion of utilizing regulatory authority to block media mergers based on political grievances signals a potential shift in executive governance regarding the private sector. By linking regulatory outcomes—such as the approval of the Warner Bros.-Netflix merger—to the employment status of opposition figures like Susan Rice, the administration may be establishing new precedents for state-market relations. This approach places increased pressure on publicly traded companies to navigate heightened political scrutiny, potentially impacting board composition and strategic partnerships ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
