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United States (US) President Donald Trump, in a tribute to the founder of the Cable News Network (CNN), Ted Turner, who passed away on Wednesday, said the station’s new ownership made it “woke” and destroyed it.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described Turner as a great friend who was always there for him when he needed him and was always willing to fight for a good cause.
“Ted Turner, one of the Greats of All Time, just died. He founded CNN, sold it, and was personally devastated by the deal because the new ownership took CNN, his ‘baby,’ and destroyed it. It became woke, and everything that he is not all about,” said Trump.
President Donald J. Trump on the passing of Ted Turner: pic.twitter.com/OwIwl58CRT
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 6, 2026
“Maybe the new buyers, wonderful people, will be able to bring it back to its former credibility and glory. Regardless, however, one of the greats of broadcast history, and a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause!”
Turner, who died at 87, founded CNN, the first 24-hour TV news network, in 1980. Then, in 1996, his company, Turner Broadcasting, merged with Time Warner to expand.
He suffered from the degenerative disease Lewy Body Dementia before his death. Turner Enterprises, in a statement, said he passed away peacefully.
