Employees livid at NBC after network ‘rewards’ Trump with solo town hall after debate withdrawal: report
Staffers at NBC, CNBC and MSNBC were said to be angry this week after learning that President Donald Trump was offered the opportunity to hold a solo town hall event.
NBC announced on Wednesday that the network will host a 90-minute town hall event for Trump opposite a similar event for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, which will air on ABC.
The event was only scheduled after a debate with Biden was cancelled because the president, who tested positive for COVID-19, refused to participate virtually.
Reporter Yashar Ali said that he had been contacted by "over a dozen" staffers at NBC and its sister networks.
"I've heard from over a dozen NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC sources (talent and staff) and the frustration with and anger toward their employer for scheduling a town hall against Biden is palpable," Ali revealed.
Others on Twitter also lashed out at NBC for "rewarding" Trump with a 90-minute event.
Read some of the responses below.
@kristadb1 Same network that ran The Apprentice and won’t release the tapes of Trump being disgusting. NBC out here… https://t.co/w7VY7HQxCu— Kathleen Smith (@Kathleen Smith) 1602687007.0
Still no rationale offered by the White House why they'd be willing to share so much information w/NBC about the pr… https://t.co/5ZcWA07w26— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@Edward-Isaac Dovere) 1602686971.0
I managed to foster a small glimmer of hope over the past two weeks. Today I wake up to NBC giving Trump free airti… https://t.co/6ztlHzopRe— James 「Vote Early」Sanders (@James 「Vote Early」Sanders) 1602686819.0
NBC's decision to continue boosting Trump--regardless of the norms they trample in order to do so--is the strongest… https://t.co/FPSdG1x8qI— Max Burns (@Max Burns) 1602686718.0
That time Trump backed out of debating Biden so NBC gave him a full 90 minutes to himself as a reward. https://t.co/KppS7wox5d— Kathleen Smith (@Kathleen Smith) 1602686709.0
This is a very stupid decision by NBC. Trump acted irresponsibly, threw a superspreader party at the White House, g… https://t.co/Dw0IMwZ1xC— Alp Ozcelik (@Alp Ozcelik) 1602686639.0
NBC is gonna put the orange idiot on their network opposite Biden’s town hall on ABC...why are they doing this afte… https://t.co/kiUz5ohxZn— Dana Ashbrook (@Dana Ashbrook) 1602686588.0
Absolutely disgraceful that NBC is further enabling @realDonaldTrump's refusal to participate in presidential debat… https://t.co/JoPql3px58— Max Burns (@Max Burns) 1602684642.0
That @NBCNews elected to attack on our democracy for ratings - AGAIN - by putting a Trump town hall directly agains… https://t.co/JWCOV8LxdZ— Kurt "Mask Up, Vote Early" Eichenwald (@Kurt "Mask Up, Vote Early" Eichenwald) 1602686323.0
So, Trump refuses Covid safety protocols, throws a tantrum, and refuses to debate Biden and NBC rewards him for it.… https://t.co/uT8taPTmui— Lisa Tozzi (@Lisa Tozzi) 1602686025.0
NBC and Trump have always been in a toxic relationship, it seems. Read this story for the toddler behavior he exhib… https://t.co/K1ypwTfYIc— Laurie Brookins (@Laurie Brookins) 1602686012.0
If you think NBC is trash for how it helped power Trump to the presidency, be sure to read ‘Catch and Kill’ for how… https://t.co/iz2JapHSb4— Matt Ghoulberg (@Matt Ghoulberg) 1602685816.0
@mitchellreports Why would @NBC allow themselves to be a vehicle for Trump’s bad behavior? You’re rewarding him for… https://t.co/GVCYhIDToX— Joe Mirabella 🏳️🌈 (@Joe Mirabella 🏳️🌈) 1602685799.0
If NBC wanted to give Trump a platform after he backed out of the debate, why on earth would they schedule the town… https://t.co/KiWGGmJKoi— George Takei (@George Takei) 1602685724.0
