Former President Donald Trump stated on a live CNN call that his team is “trying to have CNN go on a normal path,” prompting immediate backlash from viewers who questioned the network’s editorial independence.
Trump phoned into CNN to discuss Senator Lindsey Graham’s death and limited his remarks to that topic. Host Jake Tapper accepted the restrictions without pushback, thanking the former president for the call and inviting him to return.
What Trump Said
“We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we’ll do that,” Trump said during the call. He declined to answer questions about recent U.S. military strikes on Iran or other matters.
Tapper concluded the interview by saying, “I’m on a normal path right here, sir, and I appreciate your time. And thank you for calling in,” adding that CNN would welcome Trump back.
The Reaction
Social media users quickly criticized the exchange. Viewers called Tapper an “enabler” and accused CNN of allowing the former president to direct its coverage.
Critics noted that Trump has leverage over CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, which recently completed a merger with Paramount that required regulatory approval. One commenter wrote that the admission showed the network was “trying to control the media.”
What This Means
The exchange contradicts Tapper’s previous on-air statement that CNN’s job “is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes.”
Media observers pointed out that when a president discusses placing a news network on a specific path while holding leverage over its corporate owners, it raises questions about press independence.
