Trump Bought Over $1M in Netflix Bonds During Warner Bros Bidding War

WASHINGTON — March 9 (GeokHub) — New financial disclosures show that Donald Trump purchased more than $1.1 million worth of bonds issued by streaming giant Netflix during a heated corporate battle involving major media companies competing to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

According to government filings released in late February, the U.S. president acquired the bonds through multiple transactions between December and January. The disclosure lists the purchases within a range estimated between roughly $1.1 million and $2.25 million.

The investments came during a tense bidding war that saw Netflix attempting to secure a major acquisition deal while facing competition from Paramount Global and its partner Skydance Media.

Bond Purchases During Media Industry Turmoil

Records show that Trump made the first round of purchases in mid-December, acquiring more than $500,000 in Netflix bonds across two separate transactions. Additional purchases totaling more than $600,000 were made in early January.

The bonds carry an interest rate of 5.375% and are scheduled to mature in November 2029.

At the time of the purchases, the securities were trading slightly above face value, reflecting market pressure linked to the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The potential deal would have created a combined company carrying tens of billions of dollars in debt, a factor that raised concerns among investors.

The filings do not reveal whether Trump later sold the bonds or whether he made a profit from the investments.

Warner Bros. Discovery Bonds Also Purchased

The disclosure also shows that Trump invested between $500,000 and $1 million in bonds issued by Warner Bros. Discovery around the same time.

Those securities were purchased when they were trading below their face value. Since then, market prices have increased, suggesting that the investment could now be profitable if the bonds were held.

Trump’s assets are reportedly held in a family-managed trust. According to the White House, the structure separates the president from direct control over the investments.

Bidding War Shakes the Entertainment Industry

The financial activity unfolded during a dramatic takeover contest for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Netflix initially attempted to acquire the media company but ultimately withdrew from the process after a higher offer emerged from Paramount and Skydance. The winning proposal was valued at roughly $110 billion and included significant new debt financing arranged by major banks.

Industry analysts described the takeover battle as one of the largest and most aggressive consolidation efforts in the modern entertainment sector.

Political and Ethical Questions

While U.S. presidents are exempt from certain conflict-of-interest rules that apply to other federal officials, the investments have sparked debate among ethics experts.

Because the administration oversees regulatory agencies that can influence corporate mergers and antitrust decisions, some observers say presidential investments in companies affected by government policy could raise concerns about transparency and influence.

Trump, a long-time real estate investor with business interests spanning multiple industries, has previously reported assets exceeding $1 billion.