Tensions rise at CNN as the network aims for Trump

Washington Examiner ^ | 11/25/16 | Eddie Scarry 


CNN is taking an increasingly negative approach toward its coverage of President-elect Trump, causing at least some tension wiLike any credible news outlet, CNN is expected to scrutinize Trump and his incoming administration. But some inside the network have pointed to recent examples of what they considered to be an excessively hostile stance toward the Republican and his supporters
CNN is taking an increasingly negative approach toward its coverage of President-elect Trump, causing at least some tension within the network, inside sources told the Washington Examiner.
Trump, according to a New York Post story, told the network he wasn't happy with their coverage during an off-the-record meeting at his headquarters in Trump Tower this week. Trump critiqued the news media at large during the meeting, but CNN was one of the top targets, according to the Post's report.
Though Trump's team has said the meeting wasn't as tense as the Post's report, two high-level sources at CNN confirmed that their network was a primary target of the president-elect.
"CNN has always pledged to hold Trump accountable and that's what we should be doing," another source told the Examiner. "Since the election, CNN has out MSNBCed MSNBC," the source said, referring to the liberal slant at CNN's competitor. "In the long term, that's a dangerous place to be." thin the network, inside sources told the Washington Examiner. ... "CNN has always pledged to hold Trump accountable and that's what we should be doing," another source told the Examiner. "Since the election, CNN has out MSNBCed MSNBC," the source said, referring to the liberal slant at CNN's competitor. "In the long term, that's a dangerous place to be."
Like any credible news outlet, CNN is expected to scrutinize Trump and his incoming administration. But some inside the network have pointed to recent examples of what they considered to be an excessively hostile stance toward the Republican and his supporters.
During an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday, Trump was asked about his supporters in the so-called "alt-right," a loosely defined nationalist movement in which there is some support for the white supremacy movement.
"I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn," Trump told the Times during the meeting. He also said he did not want to "energize" them.
But on Tuesday, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer why Trump hasn't disavowed them "more dramatically."
In addition, some of the on-air exchanges with paid CNN contributors who support Trump have left some personnel there feeling uncomfortable.