CNN’s town hall event with former president Donald Trump was roundly criticized for its failure to challenge Trump on many of his lies, allowing Trump to belittle sexual assault victim E. Jean Carroll and to continue his lies about the 2020 election and his defense of the January 6 insurrection. (The Hill, May 10, 2023, by Niall Stanage)
Talking Point editor David Kurtz said CNN should never have given that platform to Trump who always uses those opportunities “to air old grievances and amplify false claims.” Kurtz said that standard formats such as town halls are not capable of holding Trump to account. (WBUR, May 10, 2023, by Anthony Brooks)