In his first appearance on the cable news network since 2016, Donald Trump sat down with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and it went about as well as people on both sides of the aisle expected.
While there were terse moments between the two, the questions were addressed by the former president mostly reasonably, considering the setting.
The town hall was hosted at St. Anselm College, and per reports from Politico, the audience “was mostly made up of Republicans who offered cheers and a standing ovation to Trump tonight. Last week, CNN invited the New Hampshire GOP and other state groups to help fill the audience per an email that was passed along.”
So, with an audience backing him and applauding throughout the evening, viewers saw a motivated Trump spar with Collins. This includes quips such his now viral “You’re a nasty person, I’ll tell ya,” when asked about the classified documents debacle, which brought cheers from the audience.
Collins was given a nearly impossible job of being the moderator for the left-leaning news network.
The network was slammed from the get-go by liberal pundits and Democrat congress members such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) for even having the former president on the network, much less giving him a town hall with a favorable audience.
The event covered an array of topics including Trump’s belief that the 2020 election was stolen, the January 6 protests, the recent civil court ruling that found Trump liable for battery against author E. Jean Carroll, the state of the economy, the Russia-Ukraine war, American energy independence, the Second Amendment, the current debt ceiling debacle between House Republicans and President Joe Biden and much more.
It was the subject of American energy and the rising cost of living that was Trump’s exclamation point for the evening, when asked by an audience member what he would do if elected president to “bring down costs and make things more affordable.” Trump’s answer was short and to the point: “Drill baby drill.”
CNN TownHall Voter: “On the economy, if elected again as President what is the first thing you would do to bring down costs to make things more affordable?”
President Trump: “Drill Baby Drill” pic.twitter.com/kmHgB4TE3N
— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) May 11, 2023
Currently, Trump has a seemingly insurmountable lead in the Republican field of presidential candidates, and President Joe Biden has at best tenuous support within his own party. Rivals such as Robert Kennedy Jr. have already announced their intent to run against the sitting president, while rumors swirl that the ticket will not be Biden/Harris in 2024.
There are whispers of younger, more charismatic leadership in the like of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, or the name many Republicans fear may throw her name in the ring: Michelle Obama
While these are still merely rumors, the 2024 election cycle is underway, much to the dismay of many.
The source of peace during another tumultuous year and a half of political jockeying for power in America is found in the presence of the Lord.
By staying grounded in the Word, Christians can weather the storm of negativity, anger and resentment that seems always to attach itself to politics and political discussions, while remaining active participants in the paving forward of American history. {eoa}
James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
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