Anderson Cooper reportedly defended CNN’s choice to hold the town hall with former President Donald Trump on Wednesday night.
The event, which occurred the day after a jury in New York convicted Trump responsible for sexual assault and defamation in a legal lawsuit, drew harsh criticism from critics.
Cooper spoke about the town hall and the accompanying criticism at the opening of his show on Thursday.
“Before we begin with tonight’s broadcast, I want to say something about what we witnessed at last night’s town hall. Many of you have expressed deep anger and disappointment. 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 said.
“Now, 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. 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. And according to polling, no other Republican is even close.” He continued.
Cooper concluded by stating that Trump may win the presidency once more and that liberal viewers “staying in their silo” wouldn’t change that.
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