Former President Donald Trump's CNN town hall on Wednesday night was vintage Trump: whining, complaining, and blaming others for his problems. He used the first-person pronoun in nearly every sentence. The former president failed to acknowledge the very real pain felt by so many Americans and showed no empathy towards them. Trump's MAGA base might have enjoyed his airing of grievances, but he did not win over independent voters. Moreover, his narcissistic behavior, whining about the election he lost, and grumbling about being indicted in New York may mobilize anti-Trump voters even more. Notably, there's not a hint of empathy for the heroic cops who were brutally attacked on January 6th.

This was a typical Trump performance with no substance, but still, his followers keep admiring his showmanship. The former president's constant lies, vulgarity, and hate speech have caused significant damage to the body politic of our country, and it's time for responsible print and television journalists to refuse to provide him a platform. CNN's town hall was a platform that Trump used to spread his lies and conspiracy theories. Though it was essential to invite Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the GOP's presidential nomination, it is also crucial to hold him accountable for his words and not allow him to continue misleading the American people.