CNN host Kasie Hunt on Monday cut off an interview with Trump 2024 National Press Sec. Karoline Leavitt after she attacked fellow CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash ahead of the network hosting a presidential debate with President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump on Thursday.
Hunt had taken issue with Leavitt attacking Tapper and Bash several times for perceived bias toward Trump, after Hunt asked her what Trump planned to do differently at the upcoming debate.
“President Trump is knowingly going into a hostile environment on this very network, on CNN, with debate moderators who have made their opinions about him very well known over the past eight years and their biased coverage of him,” Leavitt said. “So, President Trump is willing to bring his message to every corner of this country, to voters, to ensure that he wins this election in November.”
“I'll just say, my colleagues Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have acquitted themselves as professionals as they have covered campaigns and interviewed candidates from all sides of the aisle,” Hunt responded. “I'll also say that if you talk to analysts of debates previous, that if you're attacking the moderators, you're usually losing.”
Hunt then asked Leavitt about recent comments Trump made implying he’ll “lose the debate on purpose,” and his supporters appearing to set the bar low for Biden by portraying him as senile.
“What do you expect from Joe Biden?” Hunt asked.
“Well, first of all, it would take someone five minutes to Google ‘Jake Tapper, Donald Trump,’ to see that Jake Tapper has consistently frequently likened President Trump to Adolf Hitler,” Leavitt replied.
“Ma'am, I'm going to stop this interview if you continue to attack my colleagues. I would like to talk about Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who you work for,” Hunt replied. “If you are here to speak on his behalf, I am willing to have this conversation.”
“I am stating facts that your colleagues have stated in the past. Now, after this debate, the expectation for —” Leavitt said, before Hunt cut her off.
“I'm sorry, guys. We're going to come back out to the panel,” Hunt said to her producers. “Thank you very much for your time. You are welcome to come back at any point.”
