For the last two years, Donald Trump has expressed his disdain for any media outlet that covers his administration truthfully, without bias. But, one outlet that has received the most Trump hate is CNN, and according to the Network’s president, it “has to do with me.”
In a new episode of David Axelrod’s “The Axe Files” podcast, CNN President Jeff Zucker said Trump’s longstanding issue with the network is based on their previously strong friendship, among other things.
“We’ve had this long, 20-plus year relationship, that for a long time was quite strong,” Zucker said. “And, you know, Donald Trump did not understand, in the end, that just because we were friends didn’t mean he wasn’t going to be subjected to the proper scrutiny.”
“He thought CNN should give him a pass because we were friends. He thought CNN should be like Fox News and just give him glowing coverage all the time,” Zucker continued, adding that the Celebrity-in-Chief “should get the coverage that is appropriate and that he deserves.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But, he would never “get anything just because we’re friends,” which is why Zucker believes he holds that “against me and CNN.” In addition to that, he also believes Trump’s issue stems from CNN’s current status in the politics and its rise to fame in New York in the 80s, at the same time as Trump.
