During a segment on CNN This Morning, anchor Kasie Hunt abruptly ended an interview with Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt after Leavitt repeatedly criticized Hunt’s colleagues, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
Leavitt claimed that former President Trump was entering a “hostile environment” on CNN, accusing the network and its moderators of biased coverage over the past eight years. Hunt responded by defending Tapper and Bash, asserting they have conducted themselves professionally while covering various campaigns and candidates. She added, “if you talk to analysts or previous debates…if you are attacking the moderators, you are usually losing.”
As Hunt attempted to steer the conversation back to Trump’s debate preparation, Leavitt persisted in her attacks on Tapper, prompting Hunt to issue a warning. “We’re going to stop this interview if you are going to keep attacking my colleagues. We’re going to stop this interview if you continue to attack my colleagues,” Hunt stated. Despite this, Leavitt continued, leading Hunt to cut the interview short.
Following the incident, Hunt posted on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the importance of respecting her colleagues, regardless of political affiliation. “You come on my show, you respect my colleagues. Period. I don’t care what side of the aisle you stand on, as my track record clearly shows,” she wrote.
This incident comes as Trump and his allies have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with the debate moderators, with Trump labeling Tapper as “fake Tapper.” While it is not unusual for Trump to criticize moderators, the notable difference this time is that the Trump campaign agreed to the debate terms directly with CNN.
The upcoming debate will be held at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, with the network providing its feed for simulcast by other major broadcast and cable news networks.
