CNN CEO Chris Licht made preparations to announce that host Kaitlan Collins will take over the network’s 9 PM ET primetime slot, occupied previously by disgraced former host Chris Cuomo.
Collins’ rise up the CNN ranks comes after she hosted what many on the left have described as a “disastrous” townhall in New Hampshire with former President Donald Trump.
A CNN spokesperson told Mediaite in a statement, “Tonight, Kaitlan Collins exemplified what it means to be a world-class journalist. She asked tough, fair, and revealing questions.”
“And she followed up and fact-checked President Trump in real time to arm voters with crucial information about his positions as he enters the 2024 election as the Republican frontrunner. That is CNN’s role and responsibility: to get answers and hold the powerful to account.”
But many leftists vented anger against CNN for hosting Trump for the town hall ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) reacted angrily to the town hall, blasting the network for hosting the event.
“CNN should be ashamed of themselves,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
“They have lost total control of this ‘town hall’ to again be manipulated into platforming election disinformation, defenses of Jan 6th, and a public attack on a sexual abuse victim. The audience is cheering him on and laughing at the host.”
“This falls squarely on CNN,” Ocasio-Cortez added.
“Everyone here saw exactly what was going to happen. Instead, they put a sexual abuse victim in harm’s way for views.”
“This was a choice to platform lies about the election & Jan 6th w/ no plan but to have their moderator interrupted without consequence.”
Other liberals couldn’t hide their anger either.
Below are just some examples of Donald Trump hitting back at the host and firing up the crowd during the town hall:
Many liberals were angry with CNN for hosting Trump.
However, the Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav defended the decision when he appeared on the CNBC show “Squawk Box.”
“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?” the host said.
“Yeah, he should be,” the CEO said.
“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 by CNN for getting rid of them,” the host said.
“CNN has the world’s greatest journalists and the largest group of journalists in the Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. We have over 86 people on the ground. We’re not reporting from a desk,” the CEO said.
“Do you see an opportunity, given what happened at some of your competitors?” the host said, appearing to reference Tucker Carlson being axed at Fox News.
“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,” the CEO said.
WATCH: Most Incredible Moment of Trump’s CNN Town Hall Appearance Was When Cameras Stopped Rolling
