Ted Turner, known for founding CNN and WTBS, died on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. As such, high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump, have shared their messages on the late icon.

Ted Turner dies at 87

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer broke the tragic news on Wednesday. He shared a family statement that Turner passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family at his Valon Plantation home in Lamont, Florida. Turner’s family gave their statement that the businessman died after suffering from Lewy body dementia.

Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, Jane Fonda and more pay tribute to Ted Turner

Trump wrote on his Truth profile, “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 all about.”

Further, the 79-year-old hoped that the “new buyers” and “wonderful people” would succeed in retaining the network’s glory. He concluded, “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!”

Ex-wife Jane Fonda also penned a lengthy note on her Instagram, showering praises on him. “MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHTS ABOUT TED He swept into my life, a gloriously handsome, deeply romantic, swashbuckling pirate and I’ve never been the same,” she wrote. The Oscar-winning actress concluded the essay with, “Rest in Peace, dearest Ted. You are loved and you will be remembered.”

Moreover, Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation, shared a statement. It read, “Ted Turner’s vision for 24-hour cable news transformed the media industry and gave viewers everywhere a front seat to witness history unfold.” He continued, “His impact as a trailblazer has left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape. He was a great American and friend.”

David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros Discovery, also spoke highly of Turner. He told his staff, “He believed deeply in the power of ideas, in doing things differently and in building platforms that could inform, inspire and connect people around the world.” Further, Zaslav added, “That belief inspired generations of leaders, myself included. He did not just disrupt media. He transformed it (via Deadline).”