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New Disney Boss Is Tested by Trump and His Administration

NYT > Business > Media · Brooks Barnes and John Koblin · last updated

Josh D’Amaro, who took the helm in February, will have to lead Disney through surprising new scrutiny from the president.

In the six weeks since Josh D’Amaro took over Disney, the setbacks have been nearly nonstop.

OpenAI discontinued its text-to-video tool, Sora, nullifying a $1 billion deal with Disney. A major video game maker faltered, clouding a partnership that Disney is counting on for growth. “The Bachelorette,” on Disney-owned ABC, imploded amid a scandal involving its star. Next, Mr. D’Amaro announced layoffs related to companywide cutbacks in marketing.

But now Hollywood’s newest chief executive has been confronted with a genuine emergency, one that could color his tenure: guiding Disney through a political crisis with President Trump.

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