Jeff Zucker Thinks Corey Lewandowski Has ‘Done A Really Nice Job’ At CNN

Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, waits before the start of a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Trump's highl... Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, waits before the start of a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Trump's highly anticipated foreign policy speech Wednesday will test whether the Republican presidential front-runner, known for his raucous rallies and eyebrow-raising statements, can present a more presidential persona as he works to unite the GOP establishment behind him. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) MORE LESS
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CNN president Jeff Zucker had only good things to say about former Trump campaign manager and newly-minted CNN commentator Corey Lewandowski in an interview with Variety published Tuesday.

“The reason we hired Corey is that now that we are in the general election, I think it’s really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee,” Zucker said. “It’s hard to find a lot of those.”

He disagreed with criticism that Lewandowski continues to act as a Trump campaign spokesman rather than an analyst.

“I actually think he’s done a really nice job,” Zucker added, according to Variety. “He’s come under a much greater spotlight because of who he is, and the relationship he’s had with the media. As a result, people are going to be more critical.”

Lewandowski became infamous after a physical run-in with a female reporter covering one of Trump’s press conferences earlier this year, and had a reported history of bullying and other inappropriate behavior. He was fired from the Trump campaign in June and joined CNN as a salaried political commentator days later.

His hiring caused a stir when Lewandowski refused to discuss the circumstances of his dismissal and the possibility that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement while in Trump’s employ, which would prevent him from disparaging the candidate. Lewandowski has since defended his former boss on air, even taking a phone call from Trump while on set.

h/t Politico

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Notable Replies

  1. CNN, defining journalism down on a nightly basis.

    At least we know what Faux News is about.

    CNN has become a stealth Faux, but they are only fooling themselves at this point.

  2. “The reason we hired Corey is that now that we are in the general election, I think it’s really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee,” Zucker said.
    BULLSHIT!
    Who have you hired for the general election on CNN “who are supportive of the Democratic nominee”?
    This is pure money-grubbing at it’s most naked. Keep the election appearing to be “close” and every single story “fair and balanced” so the ad revenue continues to roll in.
    Vampires. That is what they are.

  3. I think it’s really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee," Zucker said. “It’s hard to find a lot of those.”

    Not clear on why exactly.

  4. Trump: Even a liberal network like CNN likes my plant. I am fully bi-partisan.

  5. Obviously, these cable news networks don’t have so much as an ombudsman that can tell Zucker he’s off his rocker and what he’s doing is unethical, anymore than Les Moonves has one where he works.

    Its not about bringing on a person in support of the tRump as he says. Its about fucking ratings. Ironically, I believe it makes more people tune out than tune in to CNN…

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