On Friday, CNN’s president Jeff Zucker described Fox News as “state-run TV.”
On Friday, CNN’s president Jeff Zucker described Fox News as “state-run TV.”
Notably, the comment, which was made on 'The New Yorker Radio Hour,' was preceded by a very long pause.
Host David Remnick asked Zucker to weigh in on cable news in the age of President Trump.
Zucker initially said, “Obviously Fox News is...” then went silent for roughly 10 seconds. He then continued, “So, look, there’s three cable news networks, right? Certainly in primetime and in the morning, Fox is state-run TV and is extolling the line out of the White House.”
Zucker went on to characterize MSNBC as the “opposition” and CNN as, “seeking the truth.”
As for whether or not the other two of the big three are reporting the “objective truth,” Zucker said, “I think there are clear agendas at work at the other cable news networks depending on their political points of view.”
Meanwhile, President Trump has made it clear that he’s not a fan of the course CNN is taking. In addition to often calling the network’s accuracy into question, he attempted to silence Jim Acosta, one of its reporters, during a January press conference, notes The New York Times.
In doing so, Trump spotted Acosta and said, “Your organization is terrible."
When Acosta asked for an opportunity to present a question, Trump responded, “Don't be rude. No, I'm not going to give you a question. You are fake news."