CNN’s Debate Bias: Can Trump Expect a Fair Shake?

As the next presidential debate looms, Republican critics are raising concerns about CNN’s ability to host a fair and unbiased event. Their skepticism is rooted in the network's history of coverage, which has often been perceived as overtly critical of former President Donald Trump.

CNN's approach to Trump has consistently included real-time fact-checking and immediate post-coverage scrutiny. This pattern was evident again on Monday when CNN’s Kasie Hunt abruptly ended an interview with Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt after she criticized Jake Tapper’s history of attacking Trump. Tapper, along with Dana Bash, will co-host Thursday’s presidential debate. Both journalists have been vocal in their criticisms of Trump, labeling him a liar, suggesting he’s been softer on Democrats than on Putin, and accusing him of pushing Russian propaganda and using rhetoric reminiscent of Adolf Hitler.

The concerns aren’t limited to Trump’s campaign team. Donald Trump Jr. sarcastically commented on Twitter, “I’m sure the CNN debate will be fair and unbiased based on all of CNN’s actions for the last 8 years!” Businessman David Sacks echoed this sentiment, stating, “Trump’s real debate opponent on Thursday will be CNN.” Fox News contributor Leo Terrell added, “Americans cannot trust Jake Tapper or Dana Bash to treat President Trump fairly.”

Dana Bash “was also married to one of the 51 ‘Intel experts’ who lied about Hunter Biden’s laptop being ‘Russian disinformation,'” X Strategies CEO Alex Bruesewitz said.

Senior advisor to Trump, Stephen Miller, criticized CNN's handling of the Leavitt interview, saying, “Pro tip for CNN: if you silence a guest for truthfully discussing deeply offensive commentary from a CNN host, and abruptly terminate the interview, you succeed only in calling more attention to the CNN host’s alarming bias and outrageous slanders.”

CNN has defended Tapper and Bash, describing them as “well-respected veteran journalists who have covered politics for more than five decades combined.” However, the optics of the debate seem to favor President Joe Biden. Expectations for Biden’s performance are low, and the debate rules, which include immediate fact-checking by CNN analysts, seem to be designed to mitigate potential gaffes.

Trump’s decision to participate in the debate moderated by CNN came after he claimed Biden challenged him to a debate he couldn’t refuse. According to Trump, the debate terms were intentionally unappealing, including no audience and the potential for microphones to be turned off when not speaking. Trump suggested that Biden’s camp expected him to decline the terms, thus giving them an excuse to avoid the debate altogether. Instead, Trump accepted the terms preemptively, forcing Biden into a corner.

Despite CNN’s assurance of fair moderation, the network's past actions have left many Republicans wary. The debate’s format and the moderators’ history of criticism towards Trump are significant concerns. For Trump supporters, this debate isn’t just about the candidates on stage; it’s about ensuring a level playing field in the face of perceived media bias.

The upcoming CNN-hosted debate raises serious questions about media impartiality and the integrity of the debate process. As Americans tune in, they will not only be evaluating the candidates but also scrutinizing the fairness of the platform itself. For a democracy to function effectively, it is crucial that debates are conducted impartially, providing a genuine opportunity for voters to hear from the candidates without the overshadowing presence of biased moderation.