Trump Reverses Stance, Backs Nexstar Tegna Deal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Nexstar Media Group’s proposed acquisition of Tegna. The backing marks a reversal from his earlier criticism of the $6.2 billion broadcast television deal. The merger remains subject to regulatory approval amid shifting media ownership rules.
Trump Backs Nexstar Tegna Broadcast Deal – Quick Looks
- Trump now supports Nexstar’s $6.2 billion Tegna acquisition
- Deal would expand local broadcast station ownership nationwide
- President previously criticized the merger in November
- Approval depends on FCC review and media ownership rules
- Nexstar frames deal as aligned with deregulation goals
Deep Look: Trump Reverses Stance, Backs Nexstar Tegna Deal
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Nexstar Media Group’s proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, signaling a notable shift from his earlier opposition to the deal.
In a post on social media Saturday, Trump praised the transaction as a way to increase competition within the television news industry. He argued that approving the merger would strengthen broadcasters outside the major national networks and challenge what he frequently labels as “fake news” outlets.
Trump said allowing the Nexstar-Tegna deal to move forward would help create more competition against national broadcast networks, urging regulators to approve the transaction. His remarks marked a sharp contrast with comments he made just months earlier, when he warned he would oppose the deal if it strengthened what he described as “radical left” media organizations.
The acquisition, announced by Nexstar in August, still requires regulatory approval. If completed, it would combine two of the largest owners of local television stations in the United States. Nexstar currently operates or partners with more than 200 television stations across 116 markets nationwide and also owns national networks including The CW and NewsNation.
Tegna, meanwhile, owns 64 local television stations serving 51 markets, many of them major metropolitan areas. Together, the companies would significantly expand their footprint in local broadcast news, an area that continues to draw political attention due to its influence on regional audiences.
Despite Trump’s characterization, both Nexstar and Tegna operate independently from major broadcast networks such as ABC and NBC. Nexstar has previously drawn headlines for flexing its control over local affiliates, including a temporary suspension last year of Jimmy Kimmel Live on several stations following controversial remarks by host Jimmy Kimmel about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The renewed support for the deal comes as the Federal Communications Commission moves to reconsider long-standing limits on local television station ownership. In recent years, court rulings have also weakened rules that capped how many top-rated stations a single company could own within one market.
Nexstar has framed its proposed acquisition as consistent with the Trump administration’s broader push to deregulate media and other industries. When announcing the deal, Nexstar CEO Perry Sook said the administration’s initiatives would allow local broadcasters to expand their reach and compete more effectively with technology platforms and large national media companies.
He argued that traditional broadcasters face increasing competition from digital and streaming giants with vast financial resources and global audiences, making consolidation a necessary step to remain viable.
Trump’s endorsement could influence how the deal is perceived politically, though regulatory approval will ultimately rest with federal agencies. Media analysts say the reversal underscores Trump’s transactional approach to media policy, shaped as much by perceived ideological alignment as by market structure.
The FCC has not indicated when it expects to rule on the Nexstar-Tegna merger.
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