Since the second inauguration of Donald Trump, a number of major corporations, notably in the tech sector, have publicly aligned themselves with the White House in what many lawmakers view as an effort to evade antitrust lawsuits and other scrutiny. Meta Platforms and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, long the target of strong criticism from figures on the political right, illustrate how aligning with Trump can successfully build influence. The Wall Street Journal, among other news outlets, have reported on corporations that have hired attorneys with administration connections to influence the merger approval process. 
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It is thus notable that Netflix’s similar efforts to build influence within the administration have been unsuccessful. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’ planned White House meeting when the Warner Bros. merger process was ongoing was cancelled at the last minute; this occurred shortly before Netflix ultimately dropped its bid for the acquisition. Similarly, Netflix’s effort to curry favor with the administration by hiring well-connected lobbying firms evidently did not help the company during the merger approval process. Netflix has long been accused by social conservatives of promoting progressive cultural values through its content, which became a focal point for Republican Senators during the February hearing. 

Netflix’s lack of concrete allies on either side of the aisle poses risks for the company’s future amid mounting calls for scrutiny of its anti-competitive behavior. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, argued the proposed Warner Bros. merger could lead to “substantially lessening competition in streaming markets” if approved. One of Lee’s colleagues, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), specifically echoed concerns about Netflix’s pricing power and impact on creators if the merger would be approved, stating “Prices, choice, and creative freedom are at stake.”