President Trump says Netflix-Warner Bros. deal 'could be a problem'...

President Donald Trump weighed in on Netflix's proposed $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, saying he would be involved in the review and that the combined entity's market share "could be a problem." On Dec. 7, Trump told reporters as he arrived at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., that he had met with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The president did not say whether he favored approval for the deal, but praised Sarandos and noted that Netflix has a "very big market share." "And when they have Warner Brothers... that share goes up a lot," Trump said. "That's going to be for some economists to tell... But it is a big market share. There's no question it could be a problem." Netflix announced on Dec. 5 that it agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion, a deal that would give the streaming pioneer control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets. The agreement follows a weekslong bidding war in which Netflix seized the lead with an almost $28-a-share offer that eclipsed Paramount Skydance's nearly $24 bid for the whole of Warner Bros. Discovery, including the cable TV assets slated for a spinoff. The planned acquisition has faced political pushback and antitrust concerns. Republicans in Congress warned that a Netflix acquisition would reduce consumer choice and give the company an unacceptably high share of the streaming market. Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros. Here's what that will look like Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah who leads the antitrust subcommittee, said on Dec. 3 that a Netflix buy of Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming assets "should send alarm to antitrust enforcers around the world." Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have also criticized the agreement. "This deal looks like an anti-monopoly nightmare," Warren said in a statement. "A Netflix-Warner Bros. would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market — threatening to force Americans into higher subscription prices and fewer choices over what and how they watch, while putting American workers at risk." Netflix has said the deal would create jobs and give its 300 million subscribers "more bang for their buck." The deal, which would eliminate competition between HBO Max and Netflix, is likely to face significant antitrust review by the Justice Department. Contributing: Mike Snider, Daniel de Visé, and James Powel, USA TODAY; Reuters