Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is reportedly issuing a blunt warning to corporate America: if Democrats return to power, companies perceived as cozying up to President Donald Trump to secure mergers could face sweeping breakups.
Gallego made the remarks in comments to Semafor, which included his statements in a broader report examining how Democrats are debating “how harshly to go after firms that courted Trump.”
The comments come as Paramount — owned by Trump ally David Ellison — reportedly moves closer to a takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Such a deal would consolidate major media brands under one umbrella, including CNN, CBS, HBO Max and other prominent outlets.
Gallego did not mince words about how a future Democratic administration might respond.
“Once we take power, whoever the president is, we’re going to break up your companies,” Gallego told Semafor. “So all the investment you did to create these mergers are going to be for naught. Your investors are going to be pissed at you, and you’re likely going to end up getting fired as the CEO because you wasted so much money and corrupted yourself in the process.”
The Arizona Democrat’s warning suggests that some within his party are considering an aggressive approach toward corporations that they believe are aligning themselves too closely with Trump in pursuit of regulatory approvals.
Gallego later amplified his position on social media, arguing that the political consequences for corporate leaders should be lasting.
“We have to make it so painful that generations from now CEOs will flinch at the idea of business corruptly teaming up with government,” he wrote.
The rhetoric signals a willingness among some Democrats to use future governing power to unwind major corporate transactions if they believe those deals were influenced by political favoritism.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., echoed a similar sentiment. In a post on X, Murphy targeted Paramount directly, writing, “Paramount should enjoy its growing news monopoly while they have it because when Democrats win back power we are going to break up these anti-democratic information conglomerates. All of them.”
Gallego responded succinctly: “Damn right.”
The comments arrive at a time when media consolidation and corporate mergers are once again in the national spotlight. A merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery would combine some of the most recognizable names in news and entertainment, raising questions about market concentration and political influence.
At the same time, Gallego’s remarks reflect a broader tension within Democratic circles over how to handle corporations that seek government approval for large-scale mergers during the Trump administration. The suggestion that such deals could be reversed under a future Democratic president introduces a new layer of political risk for executives weighing high-stakes transactions.
Whether these warnings translate into formal policy proposals remains to be seen. For now, Gallego’s message to business leaders is unmistakable: political alliances forged today could carry significant consequences if Democrats reclaim control in Washington.
