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President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed Nexstar Media‘s proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, simply months after criticizing the deal.
“We want extra competitors in opposition to THE ENEMY, the Faux Information Nationwide TV Networks,” Trump wrote in a Reality Social put up. “Letting Good Offers get accomplished like Nexstar – Tegna will assist knock out the Faux Information as a result of there will probably be extra competitors, and at the next and extra refined degree. These which might be opposed do not absolutely perceive how good the idea of this Deal is for them, however they may sooner or later. GET THAT DEAL DONE!”
Beneath the settlement, Nexstar, which owns or companions with over 200 stations, would add Tegna’s 64 stations — masking roughly 80% of the nation. The deal, introduced in August 2025, was anticipated to shut within the second half of 2026.
Trump’s backing of the Nexstar-Tegna deal marks an abrupt turnaround. In a Reality Social put up in November, Trump railed in opposition to the Nexstar-Tegna deal and the potential for extra trade consolidation.
“If this may additionally enable the Radical Left Networks to ‘enlarge,’ I might not be completely happy,” Trump wrote. “ABC & NBC, specifically, are a catastrophe – A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. They need to be seen as an unlawful marketing campaign to the Radical Left. NO EXPANSION OF THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS. If something, make them SMALLER!”
Nexstar, Tegna and the White Home didn’t instantly reply to a CNBC request for remark.
The proposed Nexstar-Tegna deal is a part of a string of latest media consolidation efforts as cord-cutting threatens the trade.
“We imagine that broadcast information is crucial to this nation and a free democracy, unbiased native information, and that broadcast TV is principally the final bastion of native information on the native degree, and our objective is to grow to be an even bigger firm and hopefully have the ability to compete on a degree enjoying subject with Massive Tech that’s pervasive in all features of media,” Nexstar CEO Perry Sook informed CNBC after the deal announcement.
At present, the Federal Communications Fee prohibits an organization from proudly owning broadcast stations that attain greater than 39% of U.S. households to foster competitors. For Nexstar’s deal to undergo, the FCC must carry that rule.
“We’re targeted on attaining deregulation, and we proceed to advocate for the elimination of the antiquated constraints on native tv possession as the most effective answer to degree the aggressive enjoying subject for all media,” Sook stated in a November launch when requesting approval for the Tegna deal.
In September, Nexstar was the primary media firm to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Reside!” after the late-night discuss present’s host made feedback concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
