MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan slammed CNN over the network’s decision to host a 2024 election town hall with President Donald Trump next week.
Hasan said:
“I do hope CNN chief Chris Licht doesn’t have to end up apologizing for giving Trump this platform in the same way that his predecessor Jeff Zucker had to apologize for running all those Trump rallies uninterrupted on CNN back in 2016.
“Personally I wouldn’t interview a man who has used live interviews to incite violence and tell lies.”
Hasan then gave up the game and admitted Trump would run over the CNN host.
“Obviously each of them requires follow-ups,” he said.
“You can’t just ask one and then move on.”
He then continued by calling Trump “a master of both dissembling and deflecting, especially on live TV when it’s much harder to fact-check him in real-time, and in front of an audience too, which will include his supporters.
“So good luck, CNN, but I wish you weren’t doing this.”
I’d rather CNN didn’t interview Donald Trump, live via town hall next week, but if they are going to interview him, then here are 10 questions I’d like them to ask him; 10 questions that I would ask him.
Watch/share:pic.twitter.com/FihIAgOcxL
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) May 5, 2023
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav fired back and overruled the MSNBC hack during a Friday appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box with Joe Kernen.
Kernen: “Because I want to talk about CNN and I want to talk about the cable news wars and what former President Trump is going to be on CNN?”
Zaslav: “Yeah, he should be.”
Kernen: “You should be.
“You know, you’ve already gotten criticism.
“Remember what John Malone said. Let’s get some real journalists.
“Now you try to get some real journalists and you’re getting hit CNN for getting rid of.”
Zaslav: “CNN has the greatest journalists and the largest group of journalists in the world in in the Ukraine, Poland and Russia.
“We have over 86 people on the ground. We’re not reporting from a desk.”
Kernen: “Do you see an opportunity, given what happened at some of your competitors?”
Zaslav: “We have a divided government. Right?
“We need to hear both voices. That’s what you see.
“Republicans are on the air on CNN, Democrats are on the air.
“All voices should be heard.
“This is the new CNN.”
Trump on CNN Town Hall next Wednesday:
“He’s the frontrunner, he has to be on our network… This is a new CNN.”pic.twitter.com/3tXxEKfaQy
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 5, 2023
“This is a new CNN,” Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav claims pic.twitter.com/pfQhifEvz0
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 5, 2023
