Jon Stewart revealed “the problem” with CNN’s town hall with Donald Trump as he argued that he learned “nothing” about the former president from the Wednesday event.
The former “Daily Show” host, in a series of tweets Saturday, joined a chorus of critics who have gone after the network for what they described as an “ill-advised” choice and a “Trump pep rally.”
“Dear TV,” Stewart wrote. “The problem w the Trump Town Hall wasn’t platforming ... or a fragile siloed audience unable to be exposed to newsworthy opinions antithetical to their own ... the problem was an event that was clearly negotiated to Trump’s approval. An ode to access.”
The problem w the Trump Town Hall wasn't platforming...or a fragile siloed audience unable to be exposed to newsworthy opinions antithetical to their own...the problem was an event that was clearly negotiated to Trump's approval. An ode to access. — Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) May 13, 2023
The backlash over the town hall led to anchor Anderson Cooper’s attempt to defend the network’s decision to host Trump. Yet Cooper’s remarks were described by Twitter users as “deeply stupid” and “gaslighting” as he questioned whether it was smart for viewers who disagree with Trump to stay in their “silo” and not listen to other views.
A number of CNN staffers, including senior media reporter Oliver Darcy, have shared their dissatisfaction with the event while CNN CEO Chris Licht reportedly argued that America “was served very well” by the town hall.
“You do not have to like the former president’s answers, but you can’t say that we didn’t get them,” said Licht, according to former CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter.
Stewart, in a later tweet, mocked CNN for its invitation to the former president.
“We promise good sir ... we are no longer Fake News!!! An enemy of the people!!! Let us prove it to you!!! We are fair and good and will do this however you would like ... just come back,” Stewart wrote.
We promise good sir...we are no longer Fake News!!! An enemy of the people!!! Let us prove it to you!!! We are fair and good and will do this however you would like...just come back... — Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) May 13, 2023
Stewart concluded that he “learned nothing” about Trump but instead learned “a lot” about CNN following the event.
“I learned nothing from this town hall about Trump and his most ardent supporters I haven’t known since 2016. I learned a lot about CNN,” Stewart wrote.
MorganOverlook on May 14th, 2023 at 16:52 UTC »
You can learn everything that you need to know about Trump if you listen to him talk for three minutes or longer. His schtick never changes and it's always about him and only him.
jjjijjji on May 14th, 2023 at 16:29 UTC »
CNN taught me that it can use a laugh-track just as effectively as a sitcom.
Navaheaux on May 14th, 2023 at 16:27 UTC »
It was a news sponsored Trump rally. That's all it was. And it was fucking embarrassing. We let that lead our country. He's like looking into the abyss, all hope, happiness, and raison d'etre are just depleted from you.