NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell Believes Trump Town Hall Is ‘Fair’ (Exclusive)

But many in the company’s newsrooms, including Savannah Guthrie, are ”pissed,“ insider tells TheWrap

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell thinks it is “fair” to forge ahead with Donald Trump’s town hall Thursday evening, a highly placed NBCUniversal insider told TheWrap. This, despite mounting public calls for NBC to move the event away from Democratic rival Joe Biden’s own town hall in the same 8 p.m. ET time slot on ABC.

The decision to program Trump’s town hall against Biden’s was made by NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde, the insider said. Shell was aware of the chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group’s call, the individual said, and supported the decision then and still supports it.

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Sharon Waxman

Sharon Waxman, is the founder, CEO and Editor in Chief of TheWrap. She is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, and was a Hollywood correspondent for The New York Times. Twitter: @sharonwaxman

Tony Maglio

TV Editor • tony.maglio@thewrap.com • Twitter: @tonymaglio