On August 31, 2025, supporters of President Donald Trump called for a boycott of Netflix after co-founder Reed Hastings donated $2 million to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting campaign, Proposition 50. The ballot measure, set for a November 4 special election, aims to redraw California’s congressional maps to favor Democrats, countering Texas’s GOP-led redistricting. Hastings, a longtime Democratic donor who gave $3 million to Newsom’s 2021 anti-recall effort, is among prominent backers like Ron Conway and House Democrats’ super PAC, which have poured millions into the campaign. The move has drawn ire from Trump’s base, who see it as an attempt to undermine Republican gains.
The boycott gained traction alongside unverified rumors of a $13 million Netflix deal with comedian Stephen Colbert, a frequent conservative target, further fueling outrage. The controversy has sparked debates over corporate influence in politics, with Netflix’s stock dipping slightly amid the backlash. Newsom’s campaign, which raised $6.2 million online by August 22, frames the redistricting as a necessary response to Republican gerrymandering. Opponents, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Charles Munger Jr., who donated $10 million to defeat Proposition 50, argue it subverts California’s independent redistricting process.
As the 2026 midterms loom, the boycott reflects broader tensions over political spending and media influence, with both sides digging in for a costly fight. Netflix has not commented on the boycott calls, leaving the streaming giant caught in a political firestorm.
