President Trump stated during a phone call to CNN that his administration is actively working to put the network “on a normal path,” raising concerns about press independence and government influence over media coverage.
Trump called into CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday to discuss Senator Lindsey Graham’s death. During the brief conversation, he made the statement about directing the network’s editorial direction, which immediately sparked debate about the relationship between the executive branch and American news organizations.
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 answer questions beyond the topic of Graham’s passing, including questions about recent U.S. military strikes on Iran.
Anchor Jake Tapper did not challenge the statement. Instead, he thanked Trump for his time and invited him to return to the network in the future.
Public Reaction
Social media users quickly expressed concern about the exchange. Some criticized Tapper for not pushing back on Trump’s remarks about influencing CNN’s coverage.
Critics noted that a president should not be directing the editorial decisions of any news organization. One commenter said that if CNN accepts direction from the administration, it should “close their doors, or officially merge with Fox.”
The Timing
The admission comes as the Justice Department recently approved Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. The merger requires regulatory approval, which observers noted could be influenced by the administration.
Trump’s comment about putting CNN on a “normal path” while the company awaits government approval of a major acquisition raised questions about potential leverage in the relationship.
The Context
Months earlier, Tapper had stated on air that CNN’s role “is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes.” On Sunday, media observers noted the interaction appeared to contradict that earlier statement.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.