“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin said Wednesday she is “disgusted” with CNN for hosting a town hall with former President Donald Trump.
Trump will participate in a town hall hosted by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins on May 10. Hostin raged at the network for giving the former president, who announced his 2024 presidential bid in November, any press coverage.
“That’s what I’m so disgusted by,” Hostin began. “Because, again, when someone shows you who they are, you believe them. When you show that you are an insurrectionist, that you’re a liar, that you’re a bigot, that you’re a racist, that you’re sexist, that you’re twice impeached, that you are currently a criminal defendant and likely to be a criminal defendant in two other jurisdictions. I know everything that I need to know, that you grab women by their genitals, I know everything I need to know about you.”
“So to put a button on it, I don’t think that you give that type of person a platform. You don’t do that and I’m actually dismayed that CNN on May 10 at 8 o’clock … is going to be giving him this platform. He is one of the most destructive people,” Hostin continued. (RELATED: Trump To Participate In Upcoming CNN Presidential Town Hall In New Hampshire)
“I have to disagree with you, Sunny,” co-host Joy Behar said.
“What?” Hostin gasped.
“I have to disagree with you. I can’t stand him as you know, but he is the frontrunner for the Republican Party. Let them do it, it’s is a free country, this is America. Let him go out there and let him show again to the American people that he is a sociopath,” Behar said.
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin argued that Trump could possibly be president again, and the interview is an opportunity to address the issues at an “unfriendly outlet.”
Co-host Sara Haines said news outlets have an obligation to report the issues and push back against candidates who spew false information. She said Trump should show him who he is rather than be silenced.
“Sunny, the reasons you just listed are the reasons I’m disgusted and would never vote for him,” Haines said. “But I would not silence him. I believe our job as the media is to provide information, to push back.”
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg said she “finds it extraordinary” that Trump is being interviewed by a network he has consistently criticized. Hostin continued to accuse CNN of “normalizing and legitimizing” Trump.