Ramaswamy and CNN 'locked in a bizarre dispute' over town hall: report

Republican presidential primary contender Vivek Ramaswamy and CNN "are locked in a bizarre dispute about a supposed upcoming appearance on the network" following the thirty-seven-year-old millionaire's announcement that he would be headlining a town hall on Tuesday, September 12th, Semafor's Max Tani and Shelby Talcott report.

"But two sources familiar with the matter said that Ramaswamy got ahead of event planners, and the town hall was never confirmed," Tani and Talcott explain. "One added that the tweet seemed to be an attempt by Ramaswamy to 'will it into existence,' and that Ramaswamy shared the news even after CNN told his campaign that a town hall was not going to happen on that day. And, in a statement, a CNN spokesperson said that while the network is in regular communications with campaigns including Ramaswamy's regarding potential town halls and other programming, the network does not have an event planned with the GOP candidate."

According to Semafor, CNN's representative said that "the information in Mr. Ramaswamy's post is incorrect and there is not a CNN Town Hall currently planned for September 12th."

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Tani and Talcott continue, "Ramaswamy's campaign, Semafor is told, has been frustrated by the news because they built his schedule around a town hall event hosted by anchor Erin Burnett in New York, even buying tickets to the US Open. (Ramaswamy is an avid tennis fan). When Semafor shared the network's statement with Ramaswamy's campaign, his spokesperson said in a statement that they locked in the town hall for September 12, but CNN canceled the event, 'vaguely' citing leadership changes within the network as the reason."

Ramaswamy's spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, "We had reached an agreement for September 12 in New York and even selected a moderator" and claimed that "CNN says they are looking for another date."

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View Tani's and Talcott's scoop at this link.