Zinger Key Points
- Donald Trump held a town hall interview with CNN in May 2023, his first interview with the network since 2016.
- While the interview has drawn criticism, Trump is ready for a second round.
Former president Donald Trump buried his past animosity with media outlet CNN for a featured town hall interview earlier this month. The interview generated numerous headlines, both good and bad, and Trump is ready for round two.
What Happened: Trump was the subject of a town hall interview by CNN host Kaitlan Collins on May 10. The interview was the first Trump granted to CNN since 2016.
While many have criticized CNN, a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery WBD, for giving Trump a platform, the network enjoyed strong ratings and could look to repeat its efforts.
“CNN, let’s do another one?” Trump recently posted on his Truth Social media platform.
Trump called the town hall one of CNN’s “biggest ratings nights in years," according to Deadline.
The town hall on CNN with Trump had 3.3 million viewers, according to data from Nielsen, which performed ahead of rivals Fox News and MSNBC during the same time slot.
Trump referred to the town hall as being “absolutely lovely.” During the town hall, Trump drew criticism of his comments on the 2020 election, Vladimir Putin and the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on Capitol Hill.
The former president also called out “The View” co-host and former supporter Alyssa Farah Griffin, who also contributes to CNN. Trump called Griffin a loser and shared video of her previously praising the former president.
Trump’s comments come after Farah Griffin shared commentary on the CNN town hall.
“America got to see who he is last night: a ranting, raving lunatic, who sided with Vladimir Putin,” Farah Griffin said.
Related Link: Donald Trump Has A 43 Point Lead Over DeSantis In Latest Poll, How The Gap Has Widened Since February
Why It’s Important: Trump's CNN interview marked a turning of the tides, as Trump has often preferred Fox News, a unit of Fox Corporation FOX FOXA.
Trump had previously blasted CNN and accused the network of being “fake news.”
CNN has covered Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a likely contender for the 2024 GOP primary nomination, in recent months.
With DeSantis being a potential challenger to Trump in 2024, Trump’s team may have welcomed the inclusion on the popular news channel.
Read Next: Jon Stewart Bashes CNN Over Trump Town Hall
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