Advocates Demand Congressional Probe Into Fox $22B Roku Deal After Trump Donation
The American Economic Liberties Project calls for an investigation into Fox's acquisition of Roku, citing a $1M donation to Melania Trump's initiative.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project is urging a congressional investigation following the Department of Justice’s approval of Fox’s $22 billion purchase of the streaming platform Roku.
The non-profit organization argued that the deal, cleared by regulators on Friday, is concerning because Fox provided a $1 million donation to Melania Trump’s “Fostering the Future” program back in August.
According to the group, the donation—which provides higher education scholarships for youth in the foster care system—occurred while Justice Department was still evaluating the merger.
Lee Hepner, the senior legal counsel for the AELP, stated that the timing of the gift to the first lady’s initiative during a federal review should serve as a major red flag.
Hepner claimed this incident represents a recurring trend where major media entities use donations and promises of positive coverage to win over the administration and secure business deals.
The counsel further questioned the Justice Department’s commitment to the rule of law and called on the incoming Congress to address what they described as corruption and the rapid consolidation of power.
In a statement released Friday, the Department of Justice noted it investigated the acquisition to see if the merger would negatively impact competition within the free, ad-supported streaming market.
Regulators concluded that harm was unlikely, noting that Fox would face significant reputational and financial risks if it attempted to prioritize its own programming on Roku, which also hosts competitors like Netflix and HBO Max.
The DOJ closed the case after receiving assurances from Fox to maintain Roku as a neutral and open content partner after the merger concludes.
This approval comes as the Trump administration prepares for increased oversight following recent midterm elections that returned Democrats to power in Congress.
An October report from Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren highlighted that 330 companies have announced major mergers since President Trump took office in January 2025, suggesting firms are rushing to close deals before potential political shifts.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
