President Trump, during a July 12, 2026, phone interview on CNN’s State of the Union, told host Jake Tapper that his administration was “trying to have CNN go on a normal path.” The remark came at the close of a call focused on the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham the night before.
Graham, a longtime South Carolina Republican and close Trump ally, died July 11 of an aortic dissection linked to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary medical examiner findings. He had returned from a trip to Ukraine and spoken with Trump hours earlier. Trump called into the Sunday show to offer remembrances, describing Graham as a “true patriot” and highlighting moments such as the senator’s 2018 defense of Brett Kavanaugh.
Near the end of the interview, Tapper noted that Trump preferred not to address other topics out of respect for Graham and invited him back for a fuller discussion: “We would love to have you back sometime because I do have a lot of other questions for you, sir.” Trump replied, “Sure. We’ll do that. We’ll do that.” He then added, “We’re trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we’ll do that.” Tapper answered, “Well, I’m on a normal path right here, sir, and I appreciate your time.” Trump responded, “Good. You are.”
The exchange was brief and occurred in the context of a tribute call. Trump has long criticized CNN as biased and has publicly urged changes in its ownership or leadership. In late 2025 he said it was “imperative that CNN be sold” as part of broader media deals. The Justice Department approved Paramount Skydance’s roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery—CNN’s parent—in June 2026, concluding the transaction was unlikely to harm competition in streaming, linear television, or film. Paramount’s David Ellison has stated that CNN would retain editorial independence under the new ownership.
Critics viewed Trump’s “normal path” comment as evidence of pressure on a news organization whose corporate future depends in part on regulatory approval. Supporters described it as a familiar complaint about coverage rather than a concrete directive. Tapper’s response was short and non-confrontational; he has challenged Trump on other programs and topics. The call itself produced limited immediate on-air pushback, which some viewers criticized as deferential and others saw as appropriate for a memorial segment.
By October 2026 the merger had advanced through further clearances, while separate disputes continued over White House press access involving CNN and other outlets. The July exchange illustrates the ongoing friction between the administration and a major network amid ownership changes, longstanding presidential criticism of media, and standard interview courtesies. Whether it signals unusual influence over editorial decisions remains a matter of interpretation beyond the public record of the conversation.
