Trump CNN town hall — live: Kaitlan Collins prepares to face Trump as calls grow to boycott network over event
Donald Trump is set to appear at a highly anticipated - and highly controversial - town hall event hosted by CNN tonight.
The town hall is set to kick off in New Hampshire at 8pm on Wednesday. It comes just one day after Mr Trump was found liable of sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll in a New York trial.
Mr Trump immediately railed against the jury’s decision - which ordered him to pay $5m in damages - calling it a “total disgrace”.
Meanwhile, CNN has faced intense backlash over its decision to host the former president who has repeatedly decried the network’s reporting as “fake news”.
While the town hall was condemned immediately after being announced last week, fury grew even stronger following Tuesday’s verdict as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her weight behind fresh calls to cancel it.
Neither CNN nor Trump, however, have shown any intention to call it off. As such, Mr Trump is set to face tough questioning from both host Kaitlan Collins and the audience.
key points
AOC shows support for calls to cancel Trump town hall on CNN
Trump goes on Truth Social video rant after he is found liable of sexual abuse of E Jean Carroll
Vindicated Carroll reacts to verdict
Video: Trump says ‘cunning’ Putin made ‘tremendous mistake’ with invasion
05:15 , Stuti Mishra
'Do not normalise Donald Trump': Lincoln Project hits out at CNN for 'outlandish' townhall
04:30 , Stuti Mishra
The Lincoln Project has issued a scathing statement against CNN after Donald Trump’s townhall appearance, accusing the network of “malpractice” in order to get ratings.
“CNN gave Donald Trump a campaign kickoff celebration tonight,” the organisation wrote in a release.
“Chris Licht sold out CNN’s values to chase Tucker Carlson’s viewers in a desperate attempt to find lost ratings.”
“Tonight’s disaster must be a lesson that every other news organization on earth must learn: DO NOT NORMALIZE DONALD TRUMP.
Lincoln Project
The statement called the townhall an “outlandish and shameful display” that “could have been avoided and prevented.”
“CNN’s malpractice cannot be repeated if our democracy is to survive. The stakes are simply too high,” it said.
Biden give searing one-line critique of Trump town hall
04:00 , Oliver O'Connell
President Joe Biden went after his old 2020 rival on Wednesday as Donald Trump attempted to make his case for a third presidential bid at a CNNtown hall.
Mr Biden joined with others commenting on the ex-president’s combative performance. He asked whether Americans were really ready for another four years with a brash mudslinger in the White House.
John Bowden reports.
Biden takes aim at Trump town hall with searing one-line critique
CNN sparks fury with Trump’s ‘awful’ town hall
03:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Andrew Feinberg reports on how the former president blustered through an hour including repeating the Big Lie and giving Vladimir Putin a pass.
CNN sparks fury with Trump town hall where we repeats Big Lie and gives Putin a pass
Trump hails ‘AMAZING’ New Hampshire crowd
03:41 , Oliver O'Connell
Just a simple Truth Social post from the former president after tonight’s town hall (so far).
“Hope everyone enjoyed CNN tonight. The New Hampshire audience was AMAZING. Thank you!”
Hakeem Jeffries lays out GOP’s philosophical pillars under Trump
03:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Hakeem Jeffries says on MSNBC: “The Republican Party under Donald Trump and Trumpism has three basic philosophical pillars. One, facts don’t matter. Two, hypocrisy is not a constraint to their behaviour. And three, they actually believe that shamelessness is a superpower.”
Hakeem Jeffries on MSNBC: "The Republican Party under Donald Trump and Trumpism has three basic philosophical pillars. One, facts don't matter. Two, hypocrisy is not a constraint to their behavior. And three, they actually believe that shamelessness is a superpower." pic.twitter.com/OnmiwAc8rV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
Liz Cheney fact checks Trump on Jan 6 National Guard deployment
03:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Former Republican Rep Liz Cheney did her own fact check of Donald Trump’s claims about offering to deploy the National Guard on January 6.
“Donald Trump gave no order to deploy the National Guard to protect the Capitol prior to or on Jan 6. Listen to the testimony of his own secretary of defense. No matter how many times Trump lies about this the facts won’t change. He is unfit for any office”
Donald Trump gave no order to deploy the National Guard to protect the Capitol prior to or on Jan 6. Listen to the testimony of his own secretary of defense. No matter how many times Trump lies about this the facts won’t change. He is unfit for any office. https://t.co/brCDaKg4Zy
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 11, 2023
Chris Christie calls Trump ‘Putin’s puppet’
03:10 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump refused to say tonight that he wanted Ukraine to win the war with Russia. More proof that he continues to be Putin’s puppet.
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) May 11, 2023
Trump calls Kaitlan Collins ‘nasty person’ in tense exchange
03:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Former President Donald Trump called Kaitlin Collins a “nasty person” during a tense exchange over classified documents during CNN’s New Hampshire town hall.
During a back-and-forth over Mr Trump retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Mr Trump and Ms Collins spoke over each other for several moments.
Trump calls CNN moderator ‘nasty person’ in tense exchange over classified documents
Gov Hogan says Trump has no business leading party back to White House
03:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan says “There’s a lot that can be said about Trump’s CNN Town Hall.”
He continues: “What can’t be said is that person who calls January 6th a ‘beautiful day’ and refuses to say he sides with Ukraine against Russian aggression has any business leading our party or back in the White House.”
There's a lot that can be said about Trump's CNN Town Hall.
What can't be said is that a person who calls January 6th a "beautiful day" and refuses to say he sides with Ukraine against Russian aggression has any business leading our party or back in the White House.— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 11, 2023
How CNN summed up the broadcast
02:51 , Oliver O'Connell
CNN anchor Jake Tapper summed up how the night went.
If you didn't watch, I think @jaketapper sums it up. pic.twitter.com/fLkB8FiHHm
— Zach Wolf (@zbyronwolf) May 11, 2023
Biden rips Trump ‘beautiful day’ description of January 6
02:45 , Oliver O'Connell
There were not fine people on both sides of Charlottesville.
The January 6th rioters were not good people.
End of story. pic.twitter.com/1Jc9yQwTvh— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 11, 2023
‘Predictably disastrous CNN town hall was indeed disastrous'
02:41 , Oliver O'Connell
Former NBC, ABC, CBC news executive Mark Lukasiewicz says: “The predictably disastrous CNN town hall was indeed disastrous. Proving again: Live lying works. A friendly MAGA crowd consistently laughs, claps at Trump’s punch lines — including re sex assault and Jan 6 — and the moderator cannot begin to keep up with the AR-15 pace of lies.”
He added: “Trump lies not once, not twice, but three times about abortion doctors killing babies after birth. No moderator pushback. Time for a commercial break.”
Trump lies not once, not twice, but three times about abortion doctors killing babies after birth. No moderator pushback. Time for a commercial break.
— Mark Lukasiewicz (@DeanLuk) May 11, 2023
Watch: AOC calls platforming of disinformation ‘profoundly irresponsible’ and ‘shameful'
02:37 , Oliver O'Connell
AOC on CNN's Trump town hall: "I know you said earlier that you will not comment on the platforming of such atrocious disinformation, but I would. I think it was a profoundly irresponsible decision ... it was shameful." pic.twitter.com/XIVZJmM8nC
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
Trump refuses to say he wants Ukraine to win war with Russia
02:33 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump refused to say he supported Ukraine to win its bloody war with Russia as he appeared on a controversial live CNN town hall.
The one-term president was repeatedly asked by host Kaitlan Collins if he backed Ukraine in its 15-month conflict with Vladimir Putin’s forces, and repeatedly dodged the question.
Graeme Massie reports.
Trump refuses to say he wants Ukraine to win war with Russia
Biden campaign tweets a response
02:17 , Oliver O'Connell
“It’s simple, folks. Do you want four more years of that?”
“If you don’t, pitch in to our campaign.”
It’s simple, folks.
Do you want four more years of that?
If you don’t, pitch in to our campaign.https://t.co/EwCflbYn22— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 11, 2023
02:13 , Oliver O'Connell
There are further heated back-and-forths regarding his call with Georgia election officials.=
If he is the Republican nominee, Trump says he will only accept the results of the 2024 presidential election if he feels it is an “honest one”.
Trump says he'll accept the results of the 2024 election "if I think it's an honest election." And that's the end of the CNN town hall. pic.twitter.com/vOwYbo3FmA
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
The town hall draws to a close.
Trump shakes Kaitlan Collins’s hand and says: “You did a good job,” moments after calling her a “nasty person”.
Trump shakes Kaitlin Collins hand at the end of the CNN Town Hall and says “you did a good job,” after calling her a “nasty person.”
— Carlos Munoz 📰 (@ReadCarlos) May 11, 2023
02:05 , Oliver O'Connell
After insisting he answer a question about the documents Trump says to Collins: “You are a nasty person.”
He has not changed.
To Trump, women who speak truth are always “nasty.”
What a disgrace.— Alyssa Farah Griffin (@Alyssafarah) May 11, 2023
Collins does not flinch.
Trump calls Kaitlan Collins a "nasty person," the audience laughs and applauds pic.twitter.com/FFr6iDWZif
— nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) May 11, 2023
02:03 , Oliver O'Connell
After another break, questioning moves on to the classified documents that were found at Mar-a-Lago.
“I took the documents, I’m allowed to,” Trump says.
Collins pushes back when he asserts his incorrect interpretation of the Presidential Records Act.
Collins: Why did you those documents with you?
Trump: I had every right to under Presidential Records Act pic.twitter.com/LhVwIyFfDs— Acyn (@Acyn) May 11, 2023
01:56 , Oliver O'Connell
Unsurprisingly, Trump will not call Putin a war criminal in addition to refusing to say whether he wants Ukraine to win, and appearing opposed to more military aid.
Collins: Do believe Putin is a war criminal?
Trump: it should be discussed later pic.twitter.com/jDAMuJNroA— Acyn (@Acyn) May 11, 2023
01:55 , Oliver O'Connell
Moving on to Ukraine, Trump won’t say whether he will continue to support Ukraine in Russia’s invasion and war.
Asked if he wants Ukraine to win the war, he replies: “I don’t think in terms of winning and losing.”
Asked again, he replies: “I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians.”
"He made a tremendous mistake" -- Trump on Putin pic.twitter.com/KRnSoSQX9O
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
AOC says CNN should be ashamed of themselves
01:53 , Oliver O'Connell
This falls squarely on CNN. Everyone here saw exactly what was going to happen. Instead they put a sexual abuse victim in harm’s way for views. This was a choice to platform lies about the election & Jan 6th w/ no plan but to have their moderator interrupted without consequence.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 11, 2023
01:49 , Oliver O'Connell
After a short break, the town hall continues with an audience question about the end of Title 42 and what he would do about immigration.
It quickly turns to Trump claiming to have finished building the wall on the southern border.
Collins challenges him on this several times by saying he only built 52 miles of new wall.
He then claims he would have finished it had there not been a “rigged election”.
“The election was not rigged, Mr. President,” Collins says. “You cannot keep saying that all night long.”
Trump has, in fact, said the election was rigged all night long, and he doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.
Trump refuses to acknowledge he lost ‘rigged’ 2020 election
01:44 , Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump refused to acknowledge that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden at CNN’s controversial town hall event and called his defeat “rigged” and “sad.”
The one-term president was immediately confronted by host Kaitlan Collins over his election lies and was asked to finally admit that he had been fairly and legally beaten by Mr Biden.
Graeme Massie reports.
Trump refuses to acknowledge he lost ‘rigged’ 2020 election in CNN town hall event
Trump ‘swears on his children’ he has not met E Jean Carroll
01:43 , Oliver O'Connell
A defiant former president Donald Trump on Wednesday told a CNN town hall audience that he has never met the woman who a New York jury said he sexually assaulted in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump ‘swears on his children’ he has not met E Jean Carroll after sex abuse verdict
01:42 , Oliver O'Connell
On abortion and the Dobbs ruling, Trump says: “The fact that I was able to terminate Roe vs. Wade... I was so honoured to have done it.”
“I consider the other side to be radical,” Trump says. “They could kill the baby in the ninth month or after the baby was born — now they will not be able to do that.”
There is no pushback on this statement.
Trump won’t say what kind of specific abortion ban he would support.
01:39 , Oliver O'Connell
On guns, Trump says the focus is mental health and hardening schools against attack.
Asked if he would support any new gun control policies at all, Trump says he would "very much harden" schools and again pushes the idea of arming teachers (so no, he doesn't) pic.twitter.com/rYxtjuHIzk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
01:36 , Oliver O'Connell
Trump tells Republican members of Congress to stand firm on the debt ceiling even if it means default.
“I say to the Republicans out there, Congressmen, Senators, if they don’t give you massive cuts, you’re going to have to do a default,” he said.
Asked why he has changed his position on using the debt ceiling to negotiate, he says: “Because now I’m not president.”
He says that we might as well default now because “you’ll do it later”.
Asked about the debt ceiling standoff, Donald Trump endorses the U.S. defaulting on the national debt for the first time in history:
“We might as well do it now, because you’ll do it later. Because we have to save this country. Our country is dying.” pic.twitter.com/elFUrlKXCC— The Recount (@therecount) May 11, 2023
How is Collins doing?
01:33 , Oliver O'Connell
While Collins is sternly interjecting and fact-checking where she can, Trump talks over her and steamrolls onward. Laughter from the friendly audience is not helping keep things on track.
Kaitlan Collins has pretty much given up on fact-checking Trump's lies. In fairness it's hard to fact-check this blizzard of falsehoods, which is the problem with giving Trump an open mic in the first place. pic.twitter.com/2roEFSaCTs
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
01:28 , Oliver O'Connell
After saying the January 6 rioters couldn’t get a fair trial in Washington, DC, he adds that he couldn’t in New York either and Collins turns the questioning to the E Jean Carroll verdict.
He repeats his false claims that he has never met her and then proceeds to mock her and adds that his polls have gone up.
There is laughter in the audience.
the CNN town hall audience laughs as Trump smears E Jean Carroll pic.twitter.com/HIokiAqIom
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
01:22 , Oliver O'Connell
Asked by a voter if he would pardon the January 6 rioters, Trump says he is “inclined to pardon many of them,” but he can’t promise to pardon “every single one because a couple of them probably got out of control.”
Trump promises to pardon the 1/6 insurrectionists if he is back in the White House, "I would say it will be a large portion of them, you know? They did a very -- and it'll be very early on. And they're living in hell right now." pic.twitter.com/jFsBjJmp52
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) May 11, 2023
01:17 , Oliver O'Connell
Trump says he doesn’t owe Mike Pence an apology because of what he went through on January 6.
“He did something wrong.”
Trump immediately brings up Ashli Babbitt’s death calling her a “patriot” who was shot by a “thug”.
01:14 , Oliver O'Connell
The next question from Collins is about January 6 and the Capitol riot.
Trump calls it a “beautiful day” and says a lot of the audience was probably there.
He reads tweets from the day before the riot nad the morning of it.
"A lot of the people here probably were there ... it was a beautiful day" -- Trump on January 6 pic.twitter.com/2LUs6Tn9bp
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
01:11 , Oliver O'Connell
Collins challenges Trump saying Republican officials debunked his claims about fraudulent ballots.
Kaitlan Collins to Trump: "Republican officials debunked those claims about fraudulent ballots" pic.twitter.com/7ZhRremTsQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
01:07 , Oliver O'Connell
After Trump reels through various conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, Collins interjects.
Trump pushes the big lie during his very first response. Kaitlan Collins interjects that "it was not a rigged election." Trump responds by lying some more. pic.twitter.com/NZaOAk9mHc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2023
