CNN Host Shuts Down Interview With Trump Campaign Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt: 'They cut off my microphone simply for repeating words that Jake Tapper himself has said'

Published: June 24, 2024
  |   By Chris Bertman
CNN Host Shuts Down Interview With Trump Campaign Press Secretary

A CNN host shut down an interview with former President Donald Trump's national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, after calling the ethics of two CNN hosts into question. 


CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash or slated to moderate Thursday's presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Trump. 

During a Monday appearance on the network, Leavitt discussed Trump's strategy for the upcoming debate with host Kasie Hunt, noting he would change his strategy from his previous debate with Biden in 2020.

“President Trump knows what he wants to say, and he’s going to relay his vision to the American people to make this country strong, safe, secure and wealthy again. He’s been doing that across this great nation to all corners of this country,” Leavitt said. "That’s why President Trump is knowingly going into a hostile environment on this very network, on CNN, with debate moderators who have made their opinions about him very well known over the past eight years and their biased coverage of him.”

Hunt pushed back on Leavitt's remarks and defended moderators Tapper and Bash, saying the hosts had "acquitted themselves as professionals" and had interviewed candidates from both sides of the political spectrum.

“I’ll also say that if you talk to analysts of debates previous, that if you’re attacking the moderators, you’re usually losing," Hunt added.

When asked about Trump’s expectations of Biden during the debate, Leavitt doubled down on her criticism, noting a Google search would show Tapper's numerous comparisons of Trump with Adolf Hitler made during network broadcasts.

"Ma’am, we’re going to stop this interview if you’re going to keep attacking my colleagues," Hunt said, cutting Leavitt off.

Leavitt countered by saying she was reciting factual information, prompting Hunt to shut the interview down.






Leavitt said the interview's abrupt end was "shocking," though noted the incident was evidence that the Thursday debate would not be "fair."

Bannon said he had "never seen such disrespect" during an interview with a campaign's national press secretary.

"They have never in the history of television ever ... taken a national press secretary and treated her with such lack of respect," Bannon said. "Kasie Hunt owes you an apology. CNN owes you an apology today."

Bannon then suggested Trump should cancel the Thursday debate if Hunt and CNN did not issue an apology for the incident.


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