Trump Wary of Nexstar Merger That Could 'Enlarge' News Networks [View all]
Source: Newsweek
Published Nov 23, 2025 at 08:02 PM EST
President Donald Trump has voiced personal concerns about the potential Nexstar Media Group merger could give networks like NBC and ABC, which have been critical of him and his administration, greater reach than they currently have. Newsweek reached out to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Nexstar Media Group by email on Sunday evening for comment.
Why It Matters
The Nexstar merger with fellow TV giant Tegna has been in the works since August 2025 when the television giant announced it had entered into an agreement to buy Tegna for around $6.2 billion.
The merger would make Nexstar, already the largest owner of local television stations in the United States, potentially the largest media company with the most extensive reach in the country, with ownership over 265 television stations across 44 states and covering around 80 percent of TV households, according to Variety.
What To Know
Trump took to Truth Social in the wake of the Nexstar deal making progress, with Tegna shareholders approving the merger over the past few days, according to Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail. Trump warned that the deal could "enlarge" the more liberal networks, such as NBC and ABC, which would empower "fake news." "If this would also allow the Radical Left Networks to 'enlarge,' I would not be happy," Trump wrote on Truth Social, in part, calling networks like ABC and NBC "A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY."
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-nexstar-merger-news-networks-11096391
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