Trump calls Jan. 6 a “beautiful day” during CNN town hall
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Donald Trump returned to prime-time television Wednesday evening when he took part in a CNN town hall event in New Hampshire, using the platform to repeat debunked lies about the 2020 presidential election, praising Vladimir Putin and repeat other known falsehoods, provoking the network to attract criticism for hosting it.
CNN’s own anchors were among those who questioned the broadcast, with Jake Tapper attacking the former president for calling a black law enforcement officer “a thug” and for mocking sexual assault by E Jean Carroll.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and D.C. police officer Michael Fanone also criticized the show, with the New York representative saying the network should be “ashamed.”
The town hall came just a day after Trump was found guilty of sexually assaulting and defaming the former Elle magazine columnist by a Manhattan jury, which ruled he must pay $5 million in damages to Ms. Carroll. Mr Trump referred to the victim as “a piece of shit” and again insisted he had never met her.
Mr. Trump continued the hour-long broadcast in a firestorm of disingenuous statements, at times talking about moderator Kaitlan Collins’ fact-checking and asking her to respond to questions asked.
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Trump snaps and calls Kaitlan Collins “disgusting” in tense exchange
Trump called Kaitlan Collins a “disgusting person” during a tense exchange over classified documents in New Hampshire last night.
During a back-and-forth over Trump keeping classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump and Collins sparred for several moments.
That’s how it played out.
Joe SommerladMay 11, 2023 11:30 am
Trump refuses to admit he lost the ‘rigged’ 2020 election
Donald Trump refused to admit that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden at the controversial CNN town hall event, calling his defeat “engineered” and “sad.”
The one-term president immediately confronted host Kaitlan Collins about his election lies and was asked to finally admit that he had been beaten fairly and legally by Mr. Biden.
Joe SommerladMay 11, 2023 11:00 a.m
Lisa Bloom: ‘I represented Trump’s accusers – he’s been caught in his truth’
“Because five brave women stood together, E Jean Carroll won her sexual assault and defamation case against Donald Trump. Five women said yes, I will defy the haters, the threats, the public attacks from supporters of Trump yes I will hold my head high and walk into that courtroom yes I will answer every question that comes my way with calmness and dignity yes I will endure cross-examination from Trump’s lawyers yes I will do everything I will overcome terror natural that anyone would feel doing this, the anguish, the sleepless nights, because it’s enough, because justice matters. And that’s exactly what they did.”
You can read Lisa Bloom’s Indy Voices op-ed on Carroll’s verdict below.
Joe SommerladMay 11, 2023 10:30 am
Andrew Feinberg: “What was CNN thinking?”
“I spent four years covering then-President Trump in the White House. Before that, I saw him on the campaign trail. Since he left office, he’s never really left the political scene. And one thing is clear about Donald Trump: it doesn’t change, ever,” writes Andrew Feinberg for Indy Voices.
You can read his take on last night’s town hall below.
Joe SommerladMay 11, 2023 10:00 a.m
Liz Cheney launches new anti-Trump ad
The political action committee founded by former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney has released a TV ad warning Americans that former President Donald Trump “is a risk America can never take again.”
The 60-second ad ran on CNN before and after Trump’s town hall appearance on Wednesday.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Joe SommerladMay 11, 2023 09:30
Everything you need to know about Kaitlan Collins
Last night’s host, rising star Kaitlin Collins, was once banned from a White House event for asking awkward questions about Vladimir Putin.
Now facing questions about the decision to host the controversial town hall, Collins previously worked as a White House correspondent for CNN and gained attention for her coverage of the Trump presidency and her courageous questioning of the former president
Here’s everything you need to know about her.
Study MishraMay 11, 2023 09:00
Trump launches fierce attack on ‘shit job’ E Jean Carroll
Donald Trump used his platform on CNN to attack E Jean Carroll just a day after a jury found he had sexually abused and defamed the former Elle magazine columnist.
The twice-impeached president, who was found liable for defamation and ordered to pay a total of $5 million, mocked Ms. Carroll in a CNN town hall that aired just a day after the verdict
“That’s a fake story. A made up story,” Trump said, adding, “I have no idea who the hell she is. She’s a piece of work.”
Here’s what else he had to say.
Joe SommerladMay 11, 2023 08:45
Video: Trump refuses to admit he lost ‘rigged’ 2020 election at CNN town hall event
Trump refuses to admit he lost ‘rigged’ 2020 election at CNN town hall event
Study MishraMay 11, 2023 08:30
Key points from CNN’s divisive town hall
From calling Jan. 6 a “beautiful day” to repeating long-debunked claims about the 2020 election, what happened during the nearly 90-minute broadcast of CNN’s controversial town hall with Donald Trump be almost nostalgic.
Here’s a look at exactly why the former president’s return to mainstream cable news Wednesday was so significant, and why the network faced ridicule from all sides before the night ended .
Study MishraMay 11, 2023 08:00
The network’s own anchors criticize Trump’s platforms
CNN’s decision to give Donald Trump a platform to repeat debunked lies about the election and other favorite falsehoods is being widely criticized by political commentators.
Even the network’s own anchors challenged the event.
After Wednesday’s show, Jake Tapper, for example, attacked the former president for calling a “black law enforcement officer a thug” and for mocking E Jean Carrol’s sexual assault.
Here’s what he and others had to say.
Study MishraMay 11, 2023 07:00
