President Donald Trump remembered CNN founder Ted Turner as a major broadcasting figure and longtime ally while criticizing the network’s evolution after Turner sold the company.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump on Wednesday paid tribute to CNN founder Ted Turner following the media executive’s death, describing him as a legendary figure in broadcasting while arguing the cable news network lost its identity after changing ownership.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump reflected on Turner’s role in building CNN into a major media institution and said the businessman was deeply disappointed by the network’s later direction.
“Ted Turner, one of the Greats of All Time, just died,” Trump wrote.
“He founded CNN, sold it, and was personally devastated by the Deal because the new ownership took CNN, his ‘baby,’ and destroyed it,” the president continued.
Trump said the network’s editorial and cultural changes transformed CNN into something Turner no longer recognized.
“It became woke, and everything that he is not all about,” Trump stated.
The president also referenced ongoing speculation surrounding the future ownership structure of CNN and its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, which has faced continued reports involving restructuring discussions and possible acquisition interest from outside media groups.
“Maybe the new buyers, wonderful people, will be able to bring it back to its former credibility and glory,” Trump wrote.
He concluded the tribute by describing Turner as both a historic broadcasting figure and a personal ally.
“Regardless, however, one of the Greats of Broadcast History, and a friend of mine,” Trump wrote. “Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!”
Trump’s remarks added to his years-long criticism of CNN and other major national media organizations, which he has repeatedly accused of political bias and declining public credibility.
Earlier this year, Trump posted a separate message to Truth Social featuring a graphic declaring that he was “RESHAPING THE MEDIA.”
The image referenced staff departures, layoffs, declining ratings, and executive shakeups across several major media companies. Among the changes highlighted were the departure of former CNN anchor Jim Acosta and broader restructuring efforts involving companies including Disney, CBS, Meta, and X.
The graphic also referenced the possibility of “CNN New Ownership,” presenting potential future changes at the network as part of what Trump described as a broader transformation within the American media industry.
Trump’s post portrayed traditional cable and broadcast outlets as losing influence while his political movement increasingly challenged long-established media institutions and narratives.