As President Donald Trump took the oath of office for a second term on January 20, 2025, CNN made a deliberate shift in its coverage strategy, reflecting the network’s broader push to adjust its approach to Trump’s administration. Under the guidance of newly appointed CNN President Mark Thompson, the network’s editorial team received explicit instructions to adopt a more “open-minded” and “fair-minded” approach to covering the incoming president, urging journalists to avoid expressing personal outrage or engaging in partisan commentary.
According to a report by Status, Thompson addressed over 100 of CNN’s top journalists and on-air talent, including prominent anchors like Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, during a virtual editorial meeting held on January 19. In this meeting, Thompson reportedly cautioned the team against “pre-judging” Trump and emphasized that coverage should not focus on the controversies that had defined his previous presidency, such as his ongoing legal battles and accusations related to the Stormy Daniels payment scandal.
Reportedly, when Thompson opened the floor to questions after his initial briefing, no one spoke up, suggesting that many of CNN’s top journalists and anchors may have been hesitant to challenge the new editorial direction. The report also notes that Thompson later held a follow-up meeting to reiterate his message, emphasizing that CNN should be “tough-minded” in its coverage while remaining impartial.
Thompson’s directive came amid growing pressure on CNN to recalibrate its approach after years of fierce scrutiny during Trump’s first term, where CNN often clashed with the White House and openly criticized the president.
Thompson’s call for neutrality marks a sharp departure from the approach taken under Jeff Zucker, CNN’s former president, who oversaw a period in which the network’s coverage of Trump often veered into editorializing. Under Zucker, CNN became known for its confrontational reporting style, with anchors like Jim Acosta frequently butting heads with the Trump administration.
The decision to adopt a more neutral tone reflects the evolving demands from CNN’s corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, which has signaled that it wants the network to tone down its partisan tone and return to traditional journalism. Thompson, who took over CNN’s leadership in 2024, has been tasked with steering the network away from the intense partisanship that characterized much of its coverage of Trump’s first term.
According to Nielsen figures, CNN’s coverage of Trump’s second inauguration drew 1.135 million total viewers, peaking at 1.8 million during his swearing-in and inaugural speech. By comparison, Fox News led the ratings with 10.3 million viewers during the same time period, while MSNBC pulled in 2.4 million viewers.
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Imagine these Marxist Karens keeping their emotions in check.
BAAAHHHH HAAAA
LOL
It says a lot when their anchors have to told to be fair minded in their coverage. An honest journalist wouldn’t have to be told.