President Trump fired off a weekend salvo on Truth Social, directing the FCC to torpedo Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion merger with Tegna—a deal poised to birth the nation’s largest TV station empire, swallowing 245 stations across 44 states and blanketing over 80% of U.S. households, shattering the 39% ownership cap.
The directive brands the fusion as rocket fuel for “Radical Left Networks” like ABC and NBC, which Trump slams as “a virtual arm of the Democrat Party” and an “illegal campaign” for progressives—demanding a halt on the “fake news” behemoths.
Trump proclaimed “They should be viewed as an illegal campaign to the Radical Left. NO EXPANSION OF THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS. If anything, make them SMALLER!”
He doubled down: “If this would also allow the Radical Left Networks to ‘enlarge,’ I would not be happy. ABC & NBC, in particular, are a disaster – A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.”
Nexstar’s November 22 FCC filing seeks greenlight for the Tegna tie-up, a powerhouse combo that would eclipse rivals like Sinclair (193 stations) and Gray Television (180).
Tegna’s portfolio—spanning 64 stations in 51 markets, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates—would supercharge Nexstar’s reach from 39% to a dominant 80%, triggering antitrust alarms and mandatory divestitures under FCC rules capping national ownership at 39%.
Critics say it’s a recipe for homogenized propaganda, with Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy labeling FCC cap-lifting a “disaster” for conservatives in a blistering op-ed, warning it entrenches left-wing echo chambers.
Nexstar, a Texas-based giant controlling 200+ stations has long navigated FCC scrutiny, including a 2023 $1.2M fine for ownership violations.
Trump’s veto thrust spotlights the deal’s potential to amplify leftist propaganda voices, especially amid his crusade against media bias.
Nexstar previously yanked “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from airwaves after the host’s incendiary quip that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassin was “right-wing”—despite evidence tying the shooter to Antifa motives.
As we previously detailed, the broadcasters preempted the show citing “community standards,” only to cave 72 hours later, insisting the move was “independent of government influence” while affirming commitment to the First Amendment.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s veiled threats—“We can do this the easy way or the hard way”—drew censorship cries, with Trump piling on with jibes at Kimmel’s “very bad ratings” and “lack of talent”.
The reversal fueled Trump’s narrative that such empires would entrench Democrat mouthpieces like ABC, Kimmel’s home, and NBC, turning local airwaves into partisan pulpits.
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