Trump backs Nexstar’s proposed acquisition of Tegna
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President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday Nextstar MediaMade a $6.2 billion acquisition offer Tegnajust months after criticizing the deal.
“We need more competition against the ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks,” Trump wrote in one message. Real Social mail “Allowing Good Deals to be made like Nexstar – Tegna will help eliminate Fake News because there will be more competition and at a higher and more complex level. The naysayers do not fully understand how good the concept of this Deal is for them, but they will understand in the future. MAKE THIS DEAL!”
Under the agreement, Nexstar, which owns or partners in more than 200 stations, will add Tegna’s 64 stations covering approximately 80% of the country. The deal, announced in August 2025, was expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.
Trump’s support of the Nexstar-Tegna deal marks a sudden turnaround. One Real Social post In November, Trump spoke out against the Nexstar-Tegna deal and the potential for further industry consolidation.
“If this also allowed for the ‘expansion’ of Radical Left Networks, I would not be happy,” Trump wrote. “ABC and NBC in particular are a disaster; THE VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. They should be viewed as an illegal campaign against the Radical Left. NO EXPANSION OF FAKE NEWS NETWORKS. If there are, shrink them!”
Nexstar, Tegna and the White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
The proposed Nexstar-Tegna deal is part of a series of recent media consolidation efforts as cord-cutting threatens the industry.
“We believe that broadcast news is vital to this country and to a free democracy, independent local news, and broadcast television is basically the last bastion of local news at the local level, and our goal is to become a bigger company and be able to compete on an equal footing with Big Tech, which is pervasive in every aspect of media,” Nexstar CEO Perry Sook told CNBC after the deal was announced. he said.
Currently, the Federal Communications Commission prohibits a company from owning broadcast stations that reach more than 39% of U.S. households in an effort to encourage competition. The FCC will need to repeal this rule for Nexstar’s deal to be valid.
“We are focused on achieving deregulation and continue to advocate for the elimination of outdated restrictions on local television ownership as the best solution to level the competitive playing field for all media,” Sook said in a November statement. he said. release While seeking approval for the Tegna deal.
In September, Nexstar became the first media company to block “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” After the late-night talk show host made remarks regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
