CNN host acknowledges potential loss of viewership.

CNN’s Town Hall with Trump Draws Criticism

Anderson Cooper Calls Broadcast “Disturbing”

CNN commentator Anderson Cooper didn’t hold back when discussing the network’s Wednesday town hall with former president Donald Trump. “You have every right to be outraged today and angry, never watch this network again,” Cooper said Thursday. The town hall was 70 minutes of Trump debating CNN personality Kaitlin Collins and taking questions from Republican voters. The broadcast drew three million viewers to the network, which in March saw its lowest rated week in more than seven years.

“Many of you are upset that someone who attempted to destroy our democracy was invited to sit on a stage in front of a crowd of Republican voters to answer questions,” Cooper said. “And I get it, it was disturbing.”

Trump, however, saw the town hall as a win. “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,” said the New York Times’s Jonathan Swan.

Backlash Against CNN

Cooper’s comments come after fellow CNN personality Oliver Darcy joined the backlash against the network by packaging a list of tweets in his newsletter criticizing CNN.

Trump’s Perspective

Trump said CNN “did the right thing” and that he “got the word out to millions of people that would generally not hear” his perspective.

What’s Next?

It remains to be seen how CNN will respond to the criticism, but one thing is clear: the town hall has sparked a heated debate about the role of the media in covering controversial figures like Trump.

Takeaways:

• Anderson Cooper called CNN’s town hall with Trump “disturbing.”
• Trump’s team saw the town hall as a win.
• Oliver Darcy joined the backlash against CNN by packaging a list of tweets in his newsletter criticizing CNN.
• The town hall has sparked a heated debate about the role of the media in covering controversial figures like Trump.

What do you think about CNN’s decision to host a town hall with Trump? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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