CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker is denying his network and TV news in general have anything to do with Donald Trump’s success in pursuing the Republican presidential nomination.
“The critics of Donald Trump are looking for people to blame for his rise,” Zucker said in an interview published Sunday by the Guardian. “There are many people who are either surprised by his strength, or don’t like him, and want to blame someone to explain why he has been this popular.”
Many of Trump’s political opponents and media critics alike have accused the national press, and cable news in particular, of being irresponsible in its coverage of Trump, a former reality TV star and businessman.
The critics have argued that by covering Trump’s flashy mega-rallies and accommodating him for seemingly endless interviews, the media have given the billionaire an outsize advantage in the race and denied fair coverage to other candidates.
Zucker disputed the charges.
“We are covering the story, and he’s been the Republican front-runner for almost a year now. I only wish that CNN had that much power to be able to create a front-runner on either side,” he said.
