US Senators Warn Saudi-Backed Electronic Arts (EA) Buyout Threatens Security, Free Speech

Two U.S. senators are calling for serious scrutiny of the blockbuster deal that would see Electronic Arts, the American gaming giant behind franchises like Madden and The Sims, go private in a $55 billion sale led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren have sounded the alarm, citing national security risks, fears over foreign influence, and concerns about what Saudi control might mean for millions of EA’s players.

The planned buyout was announced last month. It’s an all-cash offer that would transfer every single EA share to a consortium made up of the PIF, US investment firm Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, the last being run by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and heavily funded by the Saudi government.

Senators Demand Answers Over “Foreign Influence”

In a blunt letter addressed to Scott Bessent, chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Blumenthal and Warren urge a deep and thorough review. They describe the deal as “unprecedented” and question not just the scale of Saudi overspending, offering “more than $10 billion above EA’s trading value”, but also the intent behind it.

The Senators believe the PIF’s play here isn’t purely financial. According to their letter, it’s about “leveraging long-term shifts in public opinion” via gaming and culture. They flat out say, “Saudi Arabia’s desire to buy influence through the acquisition of EA is apparent on the face of the transaction.”

Going deeper, Blumenthal and Warren argue that handing a US gaming titan to a foreign state could erode transparency, giving an outside power leverage to “dictate or veto what stories are told to Americans” through interactive media. They warn that the Saudi regime could use EA as a soft-power megaphone, controlling narratives about US history or culture, exerting “unchecked influence” on what global players see, and potentially using the medium to project their interests worldwide.

Why Kushner’s Role Is Raising Red Flags

The Senators don’t stop at the Saudi state. They draw a line under Affinity Partners, headed by Jared Kushner. Pointing to prior criticism within the PIF when they invested $2 billion in Kushner’s firm, they argue that his involvement appears calculated to ease government hurdles. Their letter suggests the consortium is essentially betting “$1 billion that Mr Kushner can deliver the Trump Administration’s regulatory approvals.”

They’re blunt about their concerns: “What regulator is going to say no to the president’s son-in-law?” For Blumenthal and Warren, the context is a “monetisation of federal government power” that reflects poorly on the integrity of the regulatory process.

Taken private, EA could become far less transparent, a shift that makes the Senators uneasy about what kind of influence the new majority owners might wield over both the business and its creative output.

Direct Questions for EA’s Leadership

The Senators have also sent a second letter straight to EA CEO Andrew Wilson. Their message is clear: they want guarantees that EA will remain free from outside interference and preserve its editorial independence. The letter spells out serious fears that, under Saudi ownership, EA might not be able to resist pressure or censorship, nor protect its massive trove of player information.

They ask Wilson for specifics on five urgent points:

• How will EA keep American customer data safe from misuse by the PIF or Saudi government?
• How would EA respond if pressured by Saudi leadership for user information?
• What safeguards exist to prevent the exploitation of EA’s AI research by the Saudi state?
• How can players be confident they’re not becoming targets of state-driven propaganda or covert influence inside EA’s games?
• Will any EA staff or agents have to register as foreign agents after the acquisition?

The Senators also make it personal. They point out that while Wilson stands to gain “life-altering money”, on top of the $280 million he’s already earned as CEO, the financial upside for the investor group remains unclear. They explicitly question whether the motives are really about profit or simply about buying influence over the US tech and entertainment landscape.

Warning again that “Saudi Arabia could dictate or veto what stories are told to Americans,” Blumenthal and Warren frame the issue not just as one of business, but of democratic integrity and public trust.

EA Responds, Sticks To Its Script

The company’s official line hasn’t shifted. On announcing the buyout, EA described it as a way to “accelerate innovation and growth to build the future of entertainment.” CEO Andrew Wilson promised that EA would keep its headquarters in Redwood City, California, and that his leadership team would remain in place.

Wilson called the deal a “powerful recognition” of the creativity and value his teams have built, and said he’s “more energised than ever” about the company’s potential. But if the Senate gets its way, EA’s future might depend on whether regulators decide that selling America’s gaming crown jewel to a foreign government is a risk worth taking.