Mary Trump, the vocal niece of former President Donald Trump, reacted with rage after watching her uncle’s freestyle performance in New Hampshire — in a so-called Town Hall filled with Trump supporters broadcast live on CNN. Talking about what another media outlet called “CNN’s gift to fascism,” Ms. Trump railed “CNN is anti-American.”
Ms. Trump started her rant frank about her anger, declaring “I’m furious” before lambasting the network. CNN gave Trump an hour-long unreal reality show in which, according to her long tweet, he “claimed—unchallenged—that Democrats allow babies to be murdered after they’re born.”
[Note: South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has been pushing that same story.]
But the post-birth abortion comment was just one among a litany of complaints Ms. Trump issued about the shocking (but not surprising) claims made by her uncle, who also declined to say whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to emerge victorious in their year-old war.
Ms. Trump put a particular focus on the murdered babies comment, one which other outlets haven’t given as much attention to, even as the abortion issue — and disinformation about it — rend the country.
I’m furious. . . . CNN is anti-American.
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) May 11, 2023
In less than an hour, they allowed an authoritarian wannabe to lie constantly while an audience full of his followers applauded. This was not a town hall, it was a rally.
Donald bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade.
He… pic.twitter.com/Q8T3QxfMCL
Ms. Trump has long been at odds with her uncle. She has written an excoriating book about him (Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man) and sued Mr. Trump (unsuccessfully) to recover inheritance that she alleged he withheld from her.
But beyond the personal, Ms. Trump has been equally outspoken about the dangers she believed her uncle presents to the nation and the world.
Criticism of Trump’s performance was easy to find, as the former President repeated debunked election lies and said he would pardon January 6 criminals. But Mary Trump’s reaction is notable for its anger and her unique position in the Trump family. Her uncle’s performance also reinforces what she has written in her book.