CNN faced criticism from multiple fronts for its decision to host former President Donald Trump's town hall event on May 11. During the event, Trump once again repeated his false claims of a rigged election, derailed several questions from moderator Kaitlan Collins, and even insulted a former writer he is accused of sexually abusing. Some viewers, journalists, and network employees felt that CNN should not have given Trump a platform to spew his lies, but host Anderson Cooper defended the decision. Cooper acknowledged that many people were upset with the outcome, but argued that it was important to stay abreast of Trump's comments in case he is reelected in 2024. However, viewers on social media criticized Cooper's speech and accused him of being out of touch with the consequences of Trump's actions. The backlash raises the question of whether media outlets should provide a platform for politicians with a history of spreading misinformation and harmful rhetoric.