Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s aides are reportedly in a state of distress over CNN's decision not to fact-check former President Donald Trump live during Thursday night's presidential debate. The Biden camp, known for advocating a hands-on approach, is displeased with CNN's political director David Chalian, who confirmed to the New York Times that the network would not scrutinize every statement made by Trump.
Chalian mentioned that CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash would only address "egregious" misstatements from either candidate if necessary to correct the record. This decision, which can be seen as a rare moment of journalistic restraint, has caused concern within the Biden administration, which expected a more proactive role from the network.
Biden Aides Furious CNN Won't Fact Check Trump During Debate https://t.co/Cr2ETKXrEV – IT’S CUTE THAT THEY THINK CNN HAS THE CREDIBILITY TO ‘FACT CHECK’ ANYTHING:
— Stanley Ried (@RiedStanley) June 27, 2024
Biden’s aides have criticized this move as a failure of duty, arguing that the press has not adequately supported them in recent years. They believe that Democrats hold the moral high ground and see no need to maintain impartiality when they perceive one side as disseminating more falsehoods than the other.
Chalian’s comments have caused significant anxiety among Biden's team, leading to frantic communications as they try to understand the potential impact on the upcoming debate. The president’s aides are worried about facing Trump without the reassurance of a media presence to counter his statements in real-time.
For CNN, this debate represents a chance to regain some credibility after losing viewers and respect over the years. Former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno suggested that the debate could be an opportunity for CNN to reestablish itself after struggling with ratings. The network could benefit from a boost, considering it is currently trailing far behind Fox News, which averages 2.14 million viewers compared to CNN's 525,000.
The debate offers CNN a chance to demonstrate its ability to lead in the news industry once again. Meanwhile, viewers will be tuning in to witness an unfiltered debate, hoping for a glimpse of authenticity in the current political environment.
