Former President Donald Trump said during a live call to CNN that his team is “trying to have CNN go on a normal path,” a remark that drew swift criticism from viewers who questioned the network’s editorial independence.
According to the report, Trump phoned in to discuss the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and kept his remarks focused on that subject. Host Jake Tapper did not challenge the limits on the conversation. He thanked the former president for calling and invited him to return.
What Trump Said
“We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we’ll do that,” Trump said during the call. He declined to address questions about recent U.S. military strikes on Iran or other issues.
Tapper closed the segment with a response of his own: “I’m on a normal path right here, sir, and I appreciate your time. And thank you for calling in.” He added that CNN would welcome Trump back.
The Reaction
Social media users quickly took issue with the exchange. Some viewers called Tapper an “enabler” and accused CNN of letting the former president shape its coverage.
Critics also pointed to Trump’s leverage over CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, which recently completed a merger with Paramount that required regulatory approval. One commenter wrote that the remark showed the network was “trying to control the media.”
What This Means
The exchange appears to conflict with Tapper’s earlier on-air statement that CNN’s job “is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes.”
Media observers said that when a sitting or former president talks about putting a news network on a specific path while holding influence over its corporate owners, it raises fundamental questions about press independence.
