After spending seven years badmouthing CNN and calling its content "fake news," former President Donald Trump on Monday agreed to host a town hall on the news network – and critics are having a field day over it.
The town hall next week in New Hampshire will be Trump's first appearance on CNN since the 2016 presidential campaign.
Following the announcement, the phrase "#BoycottCNN" was trending on social media Monday evening.
Amid the calls to boycott, political scholar Norman Ornstein said the network's invitation "legitimizes a man under indictment, currently on trial, with more indictments to come, who incited a violent insurrection against the country and its constitution and democracy," he told The Washington Post.
Similarly, MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan tweeted that CNN was "giving a live primetime platform to an indicted insurrection-inciter, who also incited violence against their network."
Political commentator Keith Olbermann described CNN's decision as "committing journalistic suicide."
"If there was ONE consensus about 2024 it was that 'covering' Trump the way they did in 2016 (handing him live blocks of free airtime with no fact-checking possible) was irresponsible. And CNN's doing it," he tweeted.
Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of pro-gender equality organization UltraViolet, called on the network to cancel the event.
"CNN's decision to provide Trump with a platform is dangerous," Thomas said in a statement to the New Hampshire Union Leader. "We've been here before. We know what happens when a major network gives Donald Trump free airtime and an unfettered platform to spew lies and hate. It did not end well. And while Trump is likely to be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee — that is no excuse to platform disinformation without a clear plan to contain and fact-check it."
Even CNN staffers have registered complaints over the deal. One, who refused to be identified, said: "He's going to be taking questions from voters? This was the guy who tried to overturn the election," according to The Post.
Defending the decision, CNN's political director David Chalian said the network is only doing what it's committed to do.
"CNN goes all in on covering the presidential campaign, and a key piece of that is town halls with the candidates," Chalian said, per The Post. "It helps inform voters about their choices."
In a statement, CNN said it "has a longstanding tradition of hosting leading presidential candidates for Town Halls and political events as a critical component of the network’s robust campaign coverage."
"This event with former President Trump will be the first of many for CNN in the coming months as CNN correspondents travel across the country to hear directly from voters in the runup to the 2024 presidential election," the statement continued.
Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire also defended its decision to host the event, saying it has "a long history of participation in the democratic process."
"We believe that honest and informed interchange of ideas and perspectives is the bedrock of an informed electorate," President Joseph Favazza said in a statement. "Democracy depends on an educated citizenry. Here at Saint Anselm, we are proud to play an important and unique role in this regard."
Trump's town hall is set to air on CNN May 10 at 9 p.m. EST.
The event comes as Trump continues to lead the polls for the Republican nomination -- despite being indicted 34 felony charges over a hush money payment to a porn star, a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape and defamation, and another lawsuit over tax and business practices in New York, along with investigations into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and his retention of classified documents.
A recent CBS News poll shows Trump with a massive lead, as 58% of GOP voters support him as the party's nominee versus 22% who support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce a campaign. Tied in a distant third place with 5% is former Vice President Mike Pence and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump's team explained his decision to participate in the town hall, saying he is trying to reach all likely voters through any means possible.
"President Trump is running to be President for all Americans," a senior advisor told the Daily Caller. "Going outside the traditional Republican 'comfort zone' was a key to President Trump's success in 2016. Some other candidates are too afraid to take this step in their quest to defeat Joe Biden, and are afraid to do anything other than Fox News. CNN executives made a compelling pitch."
Related
Related
