Former President Donald Trump is preparing to travel outside his comfort zone, media-wise, and join a townhall-style event on a left-leaning network filled with hosts and contributors who frequently rail against him.
Trump has apparently agreed to go on CNN next week for a townhall in New Hampshire, an early primary state.
Less than a week after criticizing the Republican National Committee’s primary debate plan and vowing not to attend any debate hosted by a left-wing media outlet, Trump’s announcement that he will participate in a debate hosted by CNN is surprising to many.
The event is slated for May 10. CNN did not release many details about it:
Former President Donald Trump will participate in a CNN presidential town hall next week in New Hampshire, the network announced Monday.
The event, hosted by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins and airing at 9 p.m. ET on May 10, will feature the former president taking questions from New Hampshire Republicans and undeclared voters who plan to vote in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.
The network interrupted its daytime programming on Monday to announce the news to its viewers.
CNN. Trump. Town Hall. Next Week. pic.twitter.com/FU3myN5JSO
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 1, 2023
The town hall will be moderated by CNN ‘it’ girl and morning show co-host Kaitlin Collins, who formerly worked for the right-leaning Daily Caller.
The fact that Trump was willing to appear on a ‘hostile’ network was nevertheless criticized.
Former ESPN and MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, who was savagely embarrassed by Megyn Kelly in a stunning monologue last week, hit the network for giving Trump a platform in an angsty tweet.
“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,” Olbermann wrote. “And CNN’s doing it.”
Here it is, @cnn 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 irresponsibleAnd CNN's doing it pic.twitter.com/rZ6oFM7arS
— Keith Olbermann?? (@KeithOlbermann) May 1, 2023
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.