President Trump surprised CNN with a live phone call, ending his long boycott to honor late Senator Lindsey Graham and critique network editorial paths.
WASHINGTON— In an unscripted exchange that reverberated across the national media landscape, President Donald Trump used a surprise live appearance on CNN to reignite his long-running feud with the cable news network, declaring his intention to steer the broadcaster toward what he termed a “normal path.”
The unsolicited parting shot capped an unexpected telephone call-in to CNN’s flagship Sunday public affairs program, State of the Union, on July 12. Trump broke an extended, multi-year boycott of the network’s live broadcasts to deliver on-air reflections following the sudden death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the influential South Carolina Republican and a vital legislative confidant to the White House.
Anchor Jake Tapper kept the bulk of the dialogue focused on Graham’s legislative legacy, international defense footprint, and decades in the Senate chamber. When Tapper attempted to pivot toward pressing national security matters, including escalating military hostilities involving Iran, Trump declined to engage, stating he had phoned in solely to honor his late friend and ally.