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CNN boss Chris Licht told Donald Trump to ‘have a good conversation, have fun’ in backstage exchange : INTERNEWSCAST

CNN CEO Chris Licht encouraged former President Donald Trump to ‘have fun’ in an exchange of words backstage before the start of Wednesday night’s televised town hall event.

Trump promised Licht that he would boost CNN’s ratings, to which Licht is said to have nodded before telling him to have ‘a good conversation and have fun’, according to several eyewitness present at the broadcast at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, reports The Guardian.

Trump’s promise rang true with the Republican front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination drawing in 3.3 million viewers – securing the cable network’s highest viewing figures in the past two years. 

In 70 minutes of tense sparring with Cooper’s CNN colleague Kaitlan Collins, Trump called January 6 a ‘beautiful day’, wouldn’t say whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to win the war and branded Collins a ‘nasty person’ for pressing him on why he took so long to recover classified documents from Mar-a-Lago. 

Trump also dug in on calling the 2020 election ‘rigged’, said the ending of Title 42 will be a ‘day of infamy’, defended his actions on January 6 and gave his views on the war in Ukraine. 

CNN CEO Chris Licht exchanged words with former President Donald Trump backstage encouraging him to 'enjoy himself' prior to his town hall appearance

CNN CEO Chris Licht exchanged words with former President Donald Trump backstage encouraging him to ‘enjoy himself’ prior to his town hall appearance 

In 70 minutes of tense sparring with Cooper's CNN colleague Kaitlan Collins , Trump called January 6 a 'beautiful day', wouldn't say whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to win the war and branded Collins a 'nasty person'

In 70 minutes of tense sparring with Cooper’s CNN colleague Kaitlan Collins , Trump called January 6 a ‘beautiful day’, wouldn’t say whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to win the war and branded Collins a ‘nasty person’

As with almost everything Trump, his appearance was in his own self-interest and to generate campaign material that could be used on his social media.

Trump later took to his Truth Social to celebrate the ‘sky high ratings’ he delivered describing his performance as ‘sheer brilliance.’

He wrote: ‘I believe it was a very smart thing that they did, with Sky High Ratings that they haven’t seen in a very long time. It was by far the biggest Show of the night, the week, and the month! Many minds were changed on Wednesday night by listening to Common Sense, and sheer ‘Brilliance.’ 

Licht has faced criticism from both within CNN and outside of the network for  organizing the event which saw Trump dominate the proceedings.

Media reporter for the network, Oliver Darcy, penned in his newsletter how it was ‘hard to see how America was served by the spectacle of lies that aired on CNN’. 

As with almost everything Trump, his appearance was in his own self-interest, namelyto generate campaign material that could be used on his social media

As with almost everything Trump, his appearance was in his own self-interest, namelyto generate campaign material that could be used on his social media

CNN boss Chris Licht took over last year and vowed to cleanse the network of its bias. He has been slammed for giving Trump a platform

On Friday night, it was revealed how Darcy along with his editor were summoned to a meeting with Licht who told him his coverage of the Trump town hall had been 'too emotional'

CNN boss Chris Licht, left, took over last year and vowed to cleanse the network of its bias. He has been slammed for giving Trump a platform. On Friday night, it was revealed how Darcy along with his editor were summoned to a meeting with Licht who told him his coverage of the Trump town hall had been ‘too emotional’

On Friday night, it was revealed how Darcy along with his editor were summoned to a meeting with Licht and other top executives in which they told him his coverage of the Trump town hall had been ‘too emotional’, stressing the importance of remaining dispassionate.

Some unnamed employees told outlets like Rolling Stone that it was a ‘f*****g disgrace’, so intense was their disgust with Licht and the decision.

Despite the controversy, Licht has defended his decision to host the town hall in an editorial meeting with his staff emphasizing the importance of obtaining Trump’s answers, even if they were not liked by everyone.

Licht dismissed suggestions that moderator Kaitlan Collins did not challenge Trump vigorously enough on his claims about the ‘rigged’ 2020 election.

‘You do not have to like the former president’s answers, but you can’t say that we didn’t get them,’ Licht said in audio obtained by the New York Post as he laid down the law with staff.

‘While we all may have been uncomfortable hearing people clapping, that was also an important part of the story because the people in that audience represent a large swath of America.

‘The mistake the media made in the past is ignoring that those people exist just like you cannot ignore that President Trump exists,’ Licht said.

‘I absolutely unequivocally believe America was served very well by what we did last night.’

Licht also acknowledged Collins’ efforts who attempted to fact check the former president in real time. ‘Kaitlan pressed him again and again and made news,’he stated.

Collins, who co-anchors CNN This Morning, also supported Licht’s decision to host the Trump town hall. She also temporarily filled in as the host of the network’s 9pm slot on Thursday. 

Collins described the 70-minute town hall as ‘a major inflection point in the Republican Party’s search for its nominee,’ reminding viewers to how Trump ‘is right now the GOP front-runner’ despite being ‘criminally indicted, found civilly liable and [being] under investigation for everything from his handling of classified documents to his business empire.’

Trump had previously mentioned on Truth Social, his social media platform, that he agreed to the town hall because CNN offered him an irresistible deal. His campaign team saw the entire event as essentially a one-hour long Trump informercial, reports The Guardian.

Anderson Cooper said comments made by Donald Trump during the Republican presidential town hall meeting on Wednesday were 'disturbing' during Thursday night's Anderson Cooper 360

Anderson Cooper said comments made by Donald Trump during the Republican presidential town hall meeting on Wednesday were ‘disturbing’ during Thursday night’s Anderson Cooper 360

Anderson Cooper said comments made Trump during his CNN town hall on were ‘disturbing’ but also defended the network’s decision to give him a platform.

During the opening monologue to his CNN show Anderson Cooper 360 on Thursday, Cooper told viewers that not listening to Trump won’t make him ‘go away’.

‘You have every right to be outraged and angry and never watch this network again but do you think staying in your silo and only listening to people you agree with is going to make that person go away?’ he said.

Trump’s appearance on CNN – his first since 2016 – produced a series of controversial moments, many of which Cooper dealt with head-on.

Megyn Kelly slammed Kaitlan Collins 'train wreck' town hall with Donald Trump on Wednesday

Cooper addressed many comments made by Trump during the 70-minute confrontation with his CNN colleague Kaitlan Collins and defended the network’s decision to host him

‘Many of you are upset that someone who attempted to destroy our democracy was invited to sit on a stage in front of a crowd of Republican voters to answer questions and predictably continued to spew lie after lie after lie, and I get it. It was disturbing,’ Cooper began.

‘Many of you think CNN shouldn’t have given him any platform to speak and I understand the anger about that – giving him the audience, the time, I get that,’ he added.

‘But this is what I also get; the man you were so disturbed to see and hear from last night – that man is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president,’ he said.

Cooper then lectured his viewers on the importance of maintaining an open mind and listening to those they disagree with.

‘If we all only listen to those we agree with, it may actually do the opposite [of making Trump go away]. If lies are allowed to go unchecked, as imperfect as our ability to check them is on a stage in real-time, those lies continue and those lies spread.’

He addressed various ‘disturbing’ moments during the town hall, including the moment Trump branded Collins a ‘nasty person’ for pressing Trump for answers.

He also noted a moment when Trump venomously referred to a black law enforcement officer involved in the January 6 riots as a ‘thug’.

‘It was disturbing to see and hear that person refer to a black law enforcement officer a thug, an adjective he used many times to describe black men, and called Kaitlan Collins, the moderator, ‘nasty,’ which is what he calls any woman who stands up to him,’ said Cooper.

Trump called January 6 a 'beautiful day' and wouldn't say whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to win the war during the 70-minute town hall

Despite expressing disgust towards Donald Trump, Cooper suggested that the likelihood Trump will be the next president was too significant to ignore

Kelly said Cooper's interview 'was wildly successful in giving Donald Trump an hour of free airtime to make his case without laying a glove on him'

Trump, 76, lost his temper with Collins, 31, when she pressed him as to why he had classified documents at his home in Palm Beach and called her a ‘nasty person’

When Collins asked if the jury's decision in the E. Jean Carroll case would deter women from voting for him, Trump said, 'No, I don't think so'

When Collins asked if the jury’s decision in the E. Jean Carroll case would deter women from voting for him, Trump said, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ 

Cooper also mentioned the largely pro-Trump audience, which applauded many of Trump’s comments, including the way he  mocked E. Jean Carroll just 24 hours after a jury found he sexually abused her. 

‘It was certainly disturbing to hear that audience, young and old, our fellow citizens, people who love their kids and go to church laugh and applaud his lies and his continued defamation of a woman who according to a jury of his peers he sexually abused and defamed,’ Cooper said.

‘That audience that upset you? That’s a sampling of about half the country. They are your family members, your neighbors and they are voting and many said they’re voting for him.’

Despite expressing disgust towards Trump, Cooper suggested that the likelihood he will return to the White House was too significant to ignore. 

‘According to polling, no other Republican is even close. That man you were so upset to hear from last night, he may be President of the United States in less than two years,’ he said. ‘It can happen again, it is happening again. He hasn’t changed and he is running hard.’

Cooper described many of Trump’s remarks as ‘disturbing’. 

‘It was disturbing to hear him speak so highly of QAnon conspirators and insurrectionists who assaulted police officers and our democracy on January 6. And it was awful to hear him spread ridiculous lies about the election,’ he said.  

In the wake of the explosive interview on Wednesday night, the likes of Joy Behar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lead the backlash at CNN, with AOC fuming the network ‘should be ashamed of themselves’. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it was 'a profoundly irresponsible decision' of CNN to host the event

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said it was ‘a profoundly irresponsible decision’ of CNN to host the event

‘I think it was a profoundly irresponsible decision,’ she told MSNBC, of CNN’s hosting of the event.

Ocasio-Cortez said on the TV channel that CNN ‘put a sexual abuse victim at risk.’

Joy Behar, host of The View, tweeted: ‘The Cnn thing is a joke. The audience is stacked with his cult. Kaitlin [sic] is good, but it’s impossible to deal with this pathological liar.’

But Trump’s supporters were reveling in the anger he provoked.

‘I’m so proud of President Trump tonight, GREAT JOB!’ tweeted Marjorie Taylor Greene, a member of the House representing Georgia.

‘He is truly showing everyone why he is the president America needs.’

Taylor Greene commended him for appearing on CNN rather than his usual conservative channels.

Wednesday’s appearance marked the first time in seven years that Trump has been on CNN.

‘He is doing a town hall with CNN, who has attacked him more than anyone,’ said Taylor Greene.

‘Biden won’t even talk, can’t even talk to the press.

‘But President Trump loves this country and is showing he’s willing to fight for it.’

Texas congressman Lance Gooden said CNN was ‘the lion’s den’, but Trump won the battle.

‘Tonight President Trump went into the lion’s den and he came out victorious,’ he said.

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