CNN’s Christiane Amanpour says the network needs to restore confidence after the Trump Town Hall “earthquake”.

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NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 9: Christiane Amanpour attended the 2018 National Board of Review Annual… [+] The Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Friedman/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

CNN International Anchor Christiane Amanpour says she had a “strong exchange” with the network’s CEO, Chris Licht, at CNN’s recent prime-time town hall featuring former President Donald Trump. Amanpour told the Columbia School of Journalism graduates on Wednesday that “your trust in us has been shaken” by the town hall, but she hoped “we can survive and rebuild that trust.”

More than 3 million viewers watched the town hall, which featured Trump repeating his false claims that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen,” critics bashing CNN for giving Trump a prime-time platform to repeat that lie and many more. Moderator Caitlan Collins tried to validate Trump in real time, but the former president spoke with Collins and refused to make any false statements.

Amanpour, who served as a speaker at Columbia’s opening ceremony and also accepted the Columbia Journalism Award on Wednesday, said the town hall format served Trump well, but not the viewers. “I remain respectfully opposed to allowing Donald Trump to appear in this particular guise,” she said. We know Trump and his tendencies, everyone knows that. He just grabs the stage and dominates,” no matter how insistently the moderator holds him accountable.

Republican Presidential Town Hall with Donald Trump moderated by Caitlan Collins Live from New York. [+] Hampshire

CNN / © 2023 Warner Bros. Inc. Discovery, Inc.

At one point, when Collins tried to question Trump, he called her an “evil person”. It was a defining moment, Amanpour said. “I was going to drop the mic on ‘hateful person,'” she said. “But then that’s me… I’ve been in the ring for a long time.”

“I have always chosen to speak out when it would be easier to remain silent,” Amanpour told the Columbia alumni. “I want to do what’s right and sympathize with and acknowledge all those who need to trust us at CNN. I understand that for many of us, City Hall was an earthquake.”

CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy reported Thursday that Licht “welcomed” Amanpour’s concerns about Trump’s city council, “but stood by his decision.” Licht has defended the city council as an important showcase for Trump’s views as he leads the Republican field in the 2024 presidential race.

Darcy said “Within CNN, Amanpur is far from alone in its views. In particular, the city council has been widely criticized by staff at all levels throughout the organization.”

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