CNN CEO Mark Thompson allegedly told the company’s editorial staff to ease up on coverage of Donald Trump‘s demolition of the East Wing after a private meeting with the president.
Per media news outlet Status, Thompson met with Trump last Wednesday to discuss the integration of CNN’s new streaming service into regular White House coverage. The following day, Thompson reportedly dropped a bombshell on CNN staffers during a daily network editorial meeting.
According to the outlet, Thompson suggested to the editorial team that CNN viewers were not interested in extensive coverage of Trump’s ballroom plans. A source close to Thompson who spoke to Status alleged that the request was part of Thompson’s “big tent” approach at the network, an attempt to appeal to all parts of the political spectrum.
CNN has denied the claims made in the story in statements to multiple outlets.
“This is reckless and irresponsible conjecture without any fact-checking done prior to publication,” the network shared.
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, long a thorn in President Trump’s side, exited the network earlier this year. His sudden resignation came amid reports that Thompson asked him to move from a mid-morning slot to a show in the middle of the night.
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