CNN asked Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper not to show 'outrage' against Trump while covering inauguration

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: CNN, known for its hostile relationship with Donald Trump, has reportedly made a move toward changing its strategy in its coverage of the MAGA spearhead. 

The network’s CEO Mark Thompson apparently instructed over 100 employees, including stars like Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, to avoid "pre-judging" the 47th commander-in-chief and also asked them not to express "any outrage of their own" while covering the inauguration on Monday, January 20, The New York Post reported, citing a report.

CNN boss Mark Thompson made it clear to employees that he did not want the Donald Trump coverage to relitigate the past

A day before the ceremony, Mark Thompson apparently held a virtual meeting with his top journalists where he conveyed some new rules and changes.

The British–American media executive "made it clear that he did not want the coverage to relitigate the past," as per Status reporter Oliver Darcy, who previously worked for CNN. 

The New York Post citing Darcy's report stated that Thompson told his staff members to keep their distance from mentioning Trump's legal issues, including his hush money conviction, as well as asked them to be "open-minded" toward the Republican leader’s next four years in office.

However, Thompson’s warnings were not taken well by his staff, as Darcy noted, "What Thompson and other top brass had communicated was clear and none of the meeting participants apparently had the desire to question the guidance."

The CNN boss again held a meeting with his employees on Tuesday, telling them to remain "tough-minded" as well as "fair-minded" in coverage.

CNN's troubled relationship with Donald Trump

In the past, Donald Trump and CNN employees have clashed numerous times.

In 2018, the 78-year-old politician argued with CNN's Jim Acosta during a press conference after being asked about his take on immigration, as per TIME.

"You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN," the POTUS  said at the time.

Also, in June 2024, Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, now the White House press secretary, got involved in a verbal fight with CNN's Kasie Hunt after the former called Dana Bash and Tapper "biased," as reported by Politico.

At the time, Hunt had to say, "Ma’am, we’re going to stop this interview if you’re going to keep attacking my colleagues."

CNN fires six percent of its workforce amid low ratings

Mark Thompson’s instructions came as another report said that CNN’s ratings are quite low as compared to MSNBC and Fox News.

The network is also letting go of about six percent of its workforce, mostly from its traditional television operations, to focus on its digital and streaming services, as reported by The Independent. 

"Our objective is a simple one: to shift CNN’s gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting and, by doing that, to secure CNN’s future as one of the world’s greatest news organizations," Thompson reportedly said about the layoffs.