Jeff Zucker Defends CNN From Donald Trump’s Latest Attack (Exclusive)

“What this proves is that you’re never going to satisfy everybody,” the CNN president tells TheWrap

Donald Trump and Jeff Zucker
Getty Images/CNN

CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker was unfazed by the latest attack on his network by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

“People see everything through the prism that they want to see it. Some people think that we give too much attention to Donald Trump. Some people think that we’re too hard on Donald Trump,” Zucker told TheWrap at the news network’s upfronts presentation in New York City on Tuesday.

“I think what this proves is that you’re never going to satisfy everybody,” Zucker added. “That means we’re doing it right.”

Zucker said that he had not seen Trump’s Tuesday-night attack on his network’s coverage of the candidate, citing his “busy” schedule. He added that he also hadn’t watched Trump’s appearance on Fox’s “Megyn Kelly Presents.”

Late Tuesday, Trump sent his latest tweet attacking the media: “I can’t believe that ‪@CNN would allow the very nice Jeffrey Lord to be savaged by a panel of seven Trump haters. 7 to 1 – Don’t watch CNN!”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/732749934903087104

“We’re covering the story as we see fit. I think much of the attention on the story doesn’t recognize the true strength of our coverage,” Zucker said.

Zucker and Trump have a long history together that includes the current head of CNN green lighting “The Apprentice” back when he was running NBC’s entertainment division.

“‘The Apprentice’ was very good for NBC,” Robert Thompson, Director of Belier Center for Television & Popular Culture at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, told TheWrap recently.

“It fashioned and reshaped Donald Trump for a new audience, many of whom didn’t even know who he was when that show started…  Now Zucker is at CNN and, once again, seems to be using Donald Trump to both of their benefits.”

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