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Former President Donald Trump made a dynamic entrance at a CNN town hall event in New Hampshire on Wednesday. The live 90-minute gathering, led by former chief White House correspondent and anchor Kaitlan Collins, sparked tensions as topics such as the contentious 2020 election, Trump’s recent sexual battery case liability, and the events of January 6 arose. In response to the town hall, some individuals expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s performance, while others criticized CNN for hosting the event.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was among those who castigated CNN for allowing Trump to participate in its town hall. Ocasio-Cortez shared her disapproval via Twitter, stating that ‘CNN should be ashamed of themselves.’ She argued that the network had ‘lost total control’ of the event, which was perceived to be dominated with ‘election disinformation, defenses of Jan 6th, and a public attack on a sexual abuse victim. The audience is cheering him on and laughing at the host.’ Trump and Collins concluded the town hall around 9:10 pm, with the former President thanking attendees and expressing his love for New Hampshire.
During the town hall event, Trump defended a phone call that he had with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after the 2020 election. Trump had pressed the Secretary of State to find enough votes to flip the state in his favor. The former Commander-in-Chief maintained that his actions were justified since he believed the election to be rigged. This controversial phone call is currently being investigated by a Georgia prosecutor in relation to attempts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.
When asked about the classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago property, Trump claimed that he never shared them with anyone. However, he did not deny having the right to do so. Trump went on to assert that he was entitled to take hundreds of classified documents from the White House upon leaving office, as per the Presidential Records Act. Collins countered this claim, noting that the Act does not permit former presidents to negotiate taking materials with them after departing the White House. A special counsel is now investigating Trump’s handling of classified materials, including 100 secret and top-secret documents discovered at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
In light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Collins repeatedly attempted to get Trump to express support for Ukraine’s victory. Trump repeatedly dismissed the question, suggesting it was more vital to focus on ending the violence that has cost lives on both sides. He stated his primary concern was for Ukrainians and Russians to ‘stop dying.’ Later, when asked about whether he considered Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal, Trump reserved judgment, claiming it was a matter to be discussed at a later time.
As the Biden administration recognized Russian forces’ war crimes in Ukraine in March, Trump continued to claim that the 2020 election was rigged throughout the town hall event. Collins made numerous attempts to refute Trump’s allegations of rigged elections and fraudulent votes. The CNN anchor confronted Trump and asked him to cease repeating these claims during the event.
Trump expressed concern for the future of the United States in light of the impending termination of Title 42. Initially implemented by Trump to facilitate the expulsion of migrants and prevent asylum claims on public health grounds during the pandemic, the Biden administration is preparing to discontinue this measure. Trump lamented this decision, predicting that hordes of people will ‘pour’ into the country.
In anticipation of a surge in migrants following the cessation of Title 42 enforcement, the Biden administration has deployed 1,500 troops to maintain order and security at the southern border. Trump, however, remains skeptical of these efforts and used the town hall as a platform to voice his concerns.
During the town hall, Collins questioned Trump on his stance concerning federal abortion bans. With his characteristic evasiveness, the former president declined to provide direct answers. Trump instead emphasized his commitment to working toward a solution that he believes will benefit the country.
Commenting on the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, Trump described it as ‘a great victory.’ He argued that revoking Roe v. Wade was a substantial win for the pro-life movement and applauded his role in appointing justices who facilitated this outcome. Trump’s remarks were in response to a woman who questioned how he planned to appeal to New Hampshire women with concerns surrounding the Dobbs decision.
Expounding on abortion restrictions, Trump informed the audience that he supported exemptions for specific situations such as rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk. Though some are opposed to these exceptions, he emphasized the importance of considering such circumstances.
During the town hall, the subject of the infamous Access Hollywood tape from 2016 arose. Trump, who was caught on tape discussing groping women, clarified that the remarks were taken out of context. He insisted that his statement referred to women who allowed this behavior, not that he forced it upon them.
Trump continued to justify his comments from the 2016 Access Hollywood tape, claiming that the power and influence of well-known individuals often resulted in them ‘doing well in a lot of different ways.’ The former president maintained that this was a fact that he could not deny or take back since it had been the reality for centuries.
Amid the contentious discussion, Trump’s combative attitude towards Kaitlan Collins was also on display. He called her ‘a nasty person’ during the event, as she continued to press him on various issues including, the 2020 election, the conflict in Ukraine, and his stance on abortion.
In summary, the recent CNN town hall with former President Trump proved contentious and thought-provoking, stirring up passionate reactions among conservatives and critics alike. Issues such as the 2020 election, Title 42, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict served as focal points for discussion, while Trump’s character and previous controversies, like the Access Hollywood tape, continued to be hot topics.
