By Mark Gray
8:30pm PDT, May 14, 2023
_
On May 10, CNN presented a town hall with Donald Trump. During his chat with journalist Kaitlan Collins, the former president of the United States — who's running again — aired his grievances about the 2020 election, said he was "inclined" to pardon "many" of the Jan. 6 defendants, didn't say if he'd support Ukraine over Russia in the war and, naturally, took shots at President Joe Biden. A lot of ground was covered. Still, the fact was CNN was willing to air the town hall in prime time — which came one day after he was found liable for sexually assault, battery and defamation in a civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll — proved to be controversial and somewhat surprising, depending on your political preference.
After the town hall, many notable names reacted to the unruly spectacle, for better and for worse. Keep reading to see how celebrities from both sides of the aisle felt about the town hall, Trump and CNN…
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
_
"Trump cannot win in 2024 without appealing to more of America. And last night, proved that he is incapable of that," Meghan McCain said in her DailyMail.com column. "It is CNN's role as a news organization to provide a platform for presidential candidates. They can't control what they say. It is for the voters to decide whether or not they like what they hear. And if anyone was hurt by that debacle it was the Republican Party."
She added, "It's time for Republicans to see through this. 'Owning the liberals' is not going to fix the inflation problem, the fentanyl crisis, or heal divisions that will destroy our country."
_
"Note to anyone who interviews #Trump: TALK LOUDER THAN HE DOES! He won't let anyone speak, he interrupts, BUT IF YOU OUTSHOUT HIM, he'll STFU!!!" Bette Midler tweeted. She followed up, "Yesterday, #Trump's found guilty of sexual abuse, today he's welcomed on #CNN with open arms. His life is a real rollercoaster! Guess that's why I want to throw up!"
_
"CNN anchors – now would be a great time to resign – do it together – don't go on the air and pretend to report on this lie filled hate informercial You know why and what happened – Chris licht did it for the money for greed – you network set a torch to the country again – Just resign -!" —John Cusack
_
"I enjoyed congratulating President Trump on his outstanding town hall and undefeated record against CNN. They had to air him telling the truth about how the 2020 election was rigged and stolen. We laughed and laughed." –Marjorie Taylor Greene
_
"There is simply no way CNN can feign ignorance about the fact that they set up a sexual assault victim to be targeted and attacked on national television a day after the verdict. People were sounding the alarm about this exact scenario. They let it happen anyway without a plan. This, the choice to platform election disinformation, lies about January 6th, totally unchecked and reckless claims about abortion… they need to take ownership of what just happened. This cannot be normalized. It's dangerous." —Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
_
"yeah because let's give the man who was found liable for sexual assault yesterday a platform where he can lie (again.. about the same thing) to lunatics that applaud him. yes. sounds like a fantastic, tasteful idea from a major news network" —Claudia Conway
_
"There's no other way to say this: Donald Trump is a Liar, a Criminal, and is mentally ill." —Rob Reiner
_
"Does CNN count that as an in-kind campaign donation?" —Dan Rather
_
"@CNN served up his lies and his fresh attacks on E Jean Carroll. It allowed him to workshop new lies he would have said at trial without being under oath. The 'news' @CNN made is that they are no longer in the news business." —Hal Sparks
_
"Trump is not a normal candidate. He is an authoritarian who would destroy our democracy. If the media doesn't get that, they have no business reporting." —George Takei
