Trump Makes Major Bond Investments in Entertainment Giants After Merger News
US President Donald Trump reportedly purchased corporate bonds issued by Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery. Each investment could be worth as much as $1 million. The acquisitions happened just weeks after the two companies announced their massive merger deal.
Financial Disclosure Reveals Timing and Details
The White House released a financial disclosure for President Trump late Thursday. This disclosure, cited by The Hollywood Reporter, lists dozens of transactions with a total value exceeding $100 million. It includes the debt securities acquired from the entertainment companies.
The disclosure form is dated January 14. It does not provide exact purchase values. Instead, it offers value ranges for each transaction.
What the Disclosure Form Shows
According to the disclosure, Trump acquired two tranches of Netflix bonds. He made the first purchase on December 12, valuing between $250,001 and $500,000. A second purchase followed on December 16, also in the $250,001 to $500,000 range. These Netflix bonds mature in November 2029.
The form also shows Trump acquired bond issues by Discovery Communications LLC. This company is a subsidiary of Warner Bros Discovery. The first tranche was purchased on December 12, valued at $250,001 to $500,000. A second purchase of WBD bonds occurred on December 16 with the same value range. These WBD bonds mature in 2030, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Timing Coincides with Merger Developments
The bond purchases began just one week after Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery inked their megadeal. The deal is worth an estimated $83 billion. However, David Ellison’s Paramount is currently trying to pry WBD away from Netflix. Paramount is using a hostile tender offer and a potential proxy fight.
Trump also acquired a similar number of corporate bonds issued by SiriusXM. The filing reveals this purchase alongside dozens of other transactions.
White House Clarifies Investment Strategy
A White House official spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the investments. The official stated that President Trump’s investments aim to replicate established indexes. The official emphasized that neither President Trump nor any family member can direct, influence, or provide input regarding portfolio investments. All investment decisions are made entirely by independent managers.
Broader Bond Portfolio Includes Major Corporations
Most bonds Trump acquired in December were municipal bonds from various states and cities across the United States. The portfolio also included many corporate bonds from major US companies. These corporations include General Motors, Boeing, Macy’s, and Victoria’s Secret.
