CNN host Kasie Hunt abruptly ended an interview with Trump National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday after she repeatedly attacked the moderators in the network’s upcoming presidential debate on Thursday.
In the interview, Hunt asked Leavitt about Trump’s debate prep, specifically, what he plans to do differently this time after his widely panned debate performance in 2020.
Leavitt said Trump is “well prepared” for the debate, adding that “unlike Joe Biden, he doesn’t have to hide away and have his advisers tell him what to say.”
“President Trump knows what he wants to say, and he’s going to relay his vision to the American people to make this country strong, safe, secure, and wealthy again,” she said, according to a clip highlighted by Mediaite. “He’s been doing that across this great nation to all corners of this country.”
“And that’s why 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 added.
Hunt defended Jake Tapper and Dana Bash who are slated to host the first presidential debate on CNN this Thursday.
“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 said. “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 tried to get the interview back on track by playing comments from Trump telling his supporters that he might be better off losing the debate, and asking Leavitt what they’re expecting from Biden.
“Well, first of all, it would take someone five minutes to Google ‘Jake Tapper Donald Trump’ to see Jake Tapper has consistently…” Leavitt began, prompting Hunt to warn her that she will end the interview if she continues to attack her colleagues.
“I am stating facts that your colleagues have stated in the past,” Leavitt said.
“Okay, I’m sorry guys, we’re going to come back out to the panel,” Hunt said. “Karoline, thank you very much for your time, you are welcome to come back at any point. She is welcome to come back and speak about Donald Trump.”
After the interview, Hunt added in a post on X: “You come on my show, you respect my colleagues. Period. I don’t care what side of the aisle you stand on, as my track record clearly shows.”
