Trump, Ric Flair, Atlanta Braves, media personalities react to Ted Turner’s death: ‘One of the Greats of All Time’ 

Ted Turner, the billionaire founder of TV news network CNN, has died at 87, CNN reported Wednesday.

Below are some reactions to the news.  

Donald Trump

“Ted Turner, one of the Greats of All Time, just died,” the president posted on Truth Social. “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. 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!”  

Speaking at the Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit in London, the former head of CNN called Turner “the most fearless journalist I’ve ever seen.”  

He was fearless when it came to his corporate overlords, when Time Warner bought him; he was fearless when it came to political leaders who tried to push back on him,” Isaacson added.

“I can remember in 2011 (sic), when the Twin Towers get hit, Ted had been kind of banished upstairs at CNN Center because the corporate overlords at Time Warner didn’t want him meddling with it.” Isaacson asked Turner to come down to the newsroom, he recalled. “He brought a Confederate sword he had hanging on his wall, and he rallied us. And he said, journalism is made for times like this  

Ric Flair

“So Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great Ted Turner!” the retired professional wrestler wrote on X. “The Man That Created Cable Before Cable Was Cool! He Created CNN And Look At It Now! He Rolled The Dice And Wasn’t Afraid Of Taking Risks. He Won The America’s Cup For Sailing! His Office Looked Like The Hall Of Fame Which Included A Picture Of Him And Khrushchev. On Top Of All Of That, He Created So Many Opportunities For So Many Wrestlers Because Of His Love For Wrestling.”  

6

Ric Flair said Turner created many opporunities for wrestlers.Getty Images

Mark Thompson

“He was always and will be the presiding spirit of CNN,” the chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide said in a statement. “Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand.”

Christiane Amanpour

“Remember when giants strode the world? Ted Turner was a giant,” CNN’s chief international anchor said on the network. “He said it like it was and like it is, and we were his willing foot soldiers. And I think he changed not just the world, but all of our lives, too.