CNN CEO Told Staffers He Wanted Impartial Inauguration Coverage

The day before Donald Trump's Inauguration for a second term in office Mark Thompson, CNN's CEO, held multiple virtual editorial meetings with over 100 journalists, including prominent on-air talents like Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper. 

According to the Status newsletter., he directed them to avoid "pre-judging" President Trump and to steer clear of "expressing any outrage of their own" during coverage of the inauguration. Thompson emphasized focusing on Trump's second-term policies rather than his past legal challenges, including convictions related to the alleged Stormy Daniels "hush money" payment.

Thompson's approach marks a departure from CNN's previous editorial strategy under Jeff Zucker, who led the network to frequently challenge Trump's administration from 2017 to 2021. The shift aligns with CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery’s, directive to adopt a more neutral tone.

CNN’s coverage of Trump’s second inauguration in 2025 recorded 1.135 million total viewers, with a peak of 1.802 million during the Oath of Office. However, Fox News led the ratings, drawing 10.3 million viewers, followed by ABC (4.7 million), NBC (4.4 million), and CBS (4.1 million). Despite the decline in television viewership, CNN’s digital platforms experienced strong engagement, with CNN Max and CNN Digital recording significant activity.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Thompson opened the floor for questions, but no staff members spoke up. This new editorial direction aims to balance rigorous journalism with impartial reporting.