Donald Trump has come under criticism after paying tribute to late WCW founder Ted Turner while also using the statement to attack CNN following Turner’s death at the age of 87. Turner’s death was confirmed on Wednesday through a statement released by Turner Enterprises. The broadcasting billionaire had revealed in 2018 that he was living with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder, and had also been hospitalised earlier in 2025 with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering at a rehabilitation facility. Beyond founding CNN and building one of the most influential media empires in modern broadcasting, Turner remains one of the most important figures in professional wrestling history after acquiring Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988 and transforming 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 the television ratings, defeating Raw for 83 consecutive weeks during the height of the Monday Night Wars.
Trump’s tribute to Ted Turner sparks backlash
Following Turner’s death, Trump posted a tribute on Truth Social, but the statement quickly drew backlash online because of its criticism of CNN. Trump wrote: “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 about. 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!”
Social media users criticise Trump’s comments
The reaction online was immediate, with many users criticising the decision to include political commentary inside a tribute to Turner. One commenter wrote: “Focus on honouring Ted Turner’s incredible legacy as a media pioneer who founded CNN and transformed the news landscape, without including any politics. RIP Ted Turner.” Another user added: “Can he ever talk about somebody without talking about himself? Is that like 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 legend’s eulogy into a campaign rant. Ted Turner built empires, revolutionised news, and shaped modern media while you were still stiffing contractors. “A true icon deserves better than your petty ‘woke’ score settling on the day he passes. Classless. RIP to a pioneer, not a prop for your grudges.”
Ted Turner’s impact on WCW and the Monday Night Wars
Turner’s impact stretched far beyond wrestling. CNN launched in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour cable news network and changed television news permanently, particularly during its coverage of the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991. His broadcasting empire later expanded to include TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, while he also owned the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Thrashers NHL franchise.
FILE – Ted Turner is seen at his desk inside the CNN Center in 1982. (Nancy Mangiafico/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
Within wrestling, Turner’s willingness to compete directly with WWF changed the business permanently. After asking former WCW executive producer Eric Bischoff what it would take to challenge WWE, Turner approved the creation of WCW Monday Nitro in 1995, launching the show directly opposite Monday Night Raw on TNT. The rivalry produced some of wrestling’s defining moments, including Hulk Hogan’s heel turn and the rise of the nWo faction featuring Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. WCW’s momentum eventually collapsed following the AOL-Time Warner merger in 2001, when new Turner Broadcasting leadership cancelled WCW programming, leading to 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 with the wrestling industry and WWE. Trump Plaza became the first venue to host consecutive 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 relationship with wrestling continued for decades afterward through various WWE appearances and public support for the industry, making his reaction to Turner’s death particularly notable given WCW’s historic rivalry with WWF during the 1990s.