CNN faces backlash after Trump town hall.

Commentators Agree: CNN’s Trump Town Hall Was a Disaster

Even those across the political spectrum can agree on one thing: CNN’s Wednesday town hall with former president Donald Trump was a complete disaster for the network. CNN’s own Oliver Darcy even joined in on the criticism, packaging up a self-own of backlash in his Thursday morning media newsletter. Trump won the night, and CNN lost bigly.

MSNBC Torches CNN for Hosting Town Hall with Trump

Trump’s many critics in the media were already mad about the event before it happened, especially at MSNBC. But CNN, desperate to reverse the ongoing collapse of its ratings since Trump left office, insisted it had a journalistic obligation to question the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. CNN chairman Chris Licht reportedly saw the town hall as a chance to reset with Trump and to attract more conservative viewers.

Trump Bowls Over CNN Moderator Kaitlan Collins

Then, Trump got up on stage and bowled over CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins for 70 minutes as the New Hampshire crowd laughed and cheered. Twitter quickly became a stream of anti-CNN hate speech, and the rest of the media wasn’t far behind. MSNBC morning show host Joe Scarborough called the town hall “disgraceful on every level.”

CNN Defends Its Role

CNN spokesman Matt Dornic rushed to defend Collins as a “world-class journalist” who was able “to arm voters with crucial information about his positions as he enters the 2024 election as the Republican frontrunner. That is CNN’s role and responsibility: to get answers and hold the powerful to account.”

Trump’s Team Thrilled with Town Hall

Trump’s team, meanwhile, was “thrilled” about the town hall, according to the New York Times’ Jonathan Swan. “They can’t believe he is getting an hour on CNN with an audience that cheers his every line and laughs at his every joke.”

• Many CNN employees strongly disagree with Licht’s message
• Trump supporters gave CNN little credit for Trump’s raucous primetime performance

It seems that covering Trump is “tricky and messy,” as Licht says, and it will “continue to be messy and tricky, but it’s our job.” Whether or not CNN’s gamble paid off remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the town hall was a disaster for the network.

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