FILE – Ted Turner speaks during the CNN World Report contributors’ banquet in Atlanta on May 4, 1995. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Donald Trump was criticized after paying tribute to the late WCW founder Ted Turner while also using the statement to attack CNN after Turner died at the age of 87. Turner’s death was confirmed Wednesday through a statement issued by Turner Enterprises.
The radio billionaire revealed in 2018 that he was suffering from Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder, and was hospitalized earlier in 2025 with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering in a rehabilitation facility. Besides founding CNN and building one of the most influential media empires in modern broadcasting, Turner remains one of the most important figures in the history of professional wrestling after acquiring Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988 and turning it into World Championship Wrestling. Under Turner’s ownership, WCW became the only company in the modern era to consistently beat Vince McMahon’s WWF in television ratings, beating Raw for 83 consecutive weeks during the height of the Monday Night Wars.
Trump’s tribute to Ted Turner sparked backlash
After Turner’s death, Trump posted a tribute on Truth Social, but the statement quickly sparked online backlash over his criticism of CNN. Trump wrote: “Ted Turner, one of the all-time greats, just died. He founded CNN, sold it, and is personally devastated by the deal because the new owner took CNN, his ‘baby,’ and destroyed it. He woke up with everything he didn’t care about. Maybe new buyers, great people, can restore it to its former credibility and glory.”
“No matter what, one of the greats in broadcasting history, and a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always ready to fight for a good cause!”
Social media users criticize Trump’s statements
Online reaction was immediate, with many users criticizing the decision to include political comments in a tribute to Turner. “Focus on honoring Ted Turner’s incredible legacy as a media pioneer who founded CNN and changed the news landscape, without including any politics,” one commenter wrote.
Rest in peace Ted Turner.” Another user added: “Can he talk about someone without talking about himself? Is this a possibility in his life to actually focus on someone else for a little while besides himself?” A third post read: “Even in death, Trump can’t resist turning a eulogy for a legend into a raucous campaign. Ted Turner built empires, revolutionized news, and shaped modern media while you still go hard on contractors.” “A true icon deserves better than the petty ‘wake-up’ score that settles on the day he dies. Like no other. A tribute to a pioneer, not a prop for your grudges.”
Ted Turner’s influence on WCW and the Monday Night Wars
Turner’s influence extended beyond wrestling. Launched in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour cable news network, CNN permanently changed television news, especially during its coverage of the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. His radio empire later expanded to include TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, and Turner Classic Movies, while he also owned the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and the Atlanta Thrashers NHL franchise.
FILE – Ted Turner is shown at his desk inside CNN Center in 1982. (Nancy Mangiafico/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
In the wrestling business, Turner’s willingness to compete directly with the WWF permanently changed the business. After asking former WCW executive producer Eric Bischoff what it would take to challenge WWE, Turner agreed to create WCW Monday Nitro in 1995, launching the show directly opposite Monday Night Raw on TNT. The rivalry produced some defining moments in wrestling, including Hogan’s heel turn and the rise of the nWo faction featuring Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.
WCW’s momentum eventually collapsed after the AOL-Time Warner merger in 2001, when new Turner Broadcasting management eliminated WCW’s programming, leading to the WWF purchasing the company’s assets, intellectual property, and video library later that year.
Trump’s long history with wrestling and WWE
Trump has long maintained ties to the wrestling industry and WWE. Trump Plaza became the first venue to host back-to-back WrestleManias when it staged WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V in 1988 and 1989 respectively in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with Trump himself appearing on camera during both events.His connection to wrestling continued for decades afterward through numerous WWE appearances and general support of the industry, making his reaction to Turner’s death particularly notable given the historical rivalry between WCW and the WWF during the 1990s.