Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trumps former campaign manager, on Tuesday evening dismissed reports that during an off-the-record meeting with television networks, Trump went off on the media and their coverage of him.
“That’s not true at all. I sat right to his left. He did not explode in anger,” Conway told Bloomberg Politics’ “With All Due Respect” when asked if Trump exploded in anger at the meeting.
Following Trump’s meeting with several news networks in Trump Tower, reports surfaced revealing that Trump spent much of the meeting complaining about media coverage of his campaign.
Trump told the networks that they did not offer fair coverage of him, specifically criticizing CNN and certain television anchors at other networks, according to the Washington Post. Sources described Trump’s tone as “combative,” “proud” and “dismissive.”
Someone familiar with the meeting told the New York Post that the meeting between Trump and the networks “was like a f–ing firing squad.”
“Trump started with [CNN chief] Jeff Zucker and said ‘I hate your network, everyone at CNN is a liar and you should be ashamed,’” the source told the New York Post. “The meeting was a total disaster. The TV execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down.”
Another source told the New York Post that Trump called members of the media “liars” and specifically called out CNN.
However, one meeting participant told CNN that Trump also asked for a positive relationship with the media when he arrives in the White House and that the New York Post account of Trump’s anger was overstated.
