President Donald Trump made a pointed remark about CNN during a live phone interview with Jake Tapper on Sunday, saying his administration is working to put the network “on a normal path.” The comment, delivered as Trump discussed the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, quickly drew criticism from viewers who saw it as an attempt to influence coverage.
Trump called into State of the Union to pay tribute to Graham, a longtime ally who died after a brief illness. He declined to answer questions on other topics, including recent U.S. strikes on Iran and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. When Tapper invited him back for a fuller interview, Trump agreed and added: “We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we’ll do that.”
Tapper did not challenge the statement. “Well, I’m on a normal path right here, sir, and I appreciate your time. And thank you for calling in,” he replied, later saying the network would welcome Trump back.
The exchange prompted an immediate reaction on social media. Critics called Tapper an “enabler” and “sycophant.” One commenter argued it is not a president’s role “to direct the ‘path’ any news organization follows,” suggesting that if CNN accepted such direction it should “close their doors, or officially merge with Fox.” Others described the moment as an open admission that the White House was trying to control media coverage.
The timing added to the concern. The Justice Department had recently approved Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company—a deal that still faced other regulatory and legal hurdles. Critics said a president discussing a network’s “path” while his administration held leverage over its owners amounted to more than an offhand remark.
The episode also stood in contrast to Tapper’s earlier on-air comments that CNN’s job “is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes.” Viewers who remembered that statement said Sunday’s interview showed the opposite: a host accepting the president’s terms and limits without pushback.
The brief appearance left Trump’s remark about CNN’s direction as the most discussed part of the segment, turning a tribute to a late senator into a flashpoint over press independence.
