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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 towards THE ENEMY, the Pretend Information Nationwide TV Networks,” Trump wrote in a Fact Social put up. “Letting Good Offers get finished like Nexstar – Tegna will assist knock out the Pretend Information as a result of there might be extra competitors, and at a better and extra refined degree. These which are opposed do not totally perceive how good the idea of this Deal is for them, however they’ll sooner or later. GET THAT DEAL DONE!”
Below 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 Fact Social put up in November, Trump railed towards the Nexstar-Tegna deal and the potential for extra trade consolidation.
“If this could additionally permit the Radical Left Networks to ‘enlarge,’ I’d not be completely happy,” Trump wrote. “ABC & NBC, specifically, are a catastrophe – A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. They need to be considered as an unlawful marketing campaign to the Radical Left. NO EXPANSION OF THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS. If something, make them SMALLER!”
The proposed Nexstar-Tegna deal is a part of a string of current media consolidation efforts as cord-cutting threatens the trade.
“We imagine that broadcast information is important to this nation and a free democracy, impartial native information, and that broadcast TV is principally the final bastion of native information on the native degree, and our aim is to turn out to be a much bigger firm and hopefully have the ability to compete on a degree taking part in subject with Huge Tech that’s pervasive in all elements of media,” Nexstar CEO Perry Sook advised CNBC after the deal announcement.
At the moment, 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 elevate 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 one of the best answer to degree the aggressive taking part in subject for all media,” Sook mentioned 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 speak present’s host made feedback in regards to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
