CNN host Brian Stelter has been fending off angry backlash on Twitter for not acting sooner to challenge contentious remarks made by Duke University psychiatry professor Allen Frances on CNN's "Reliable Sources" on 25 August.
The guest had launched into a tirade of controversial comparisons targeting US President Donald Trump.
"Trump is as destructive a person in this century, as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao were in the last century. He may be responsible for many more million deaths than they were. He needs to be contained, but he needs to be contained by attacking his policies, not his person", said Frances.
Calling Trump crazy, said Frances, would be an insult to the mentally ill, and lashed out at US voters as insane for electing him.
"I’ve known thousands of patients, almost all of them have been well-behaved, well-mannered good people. Trump is none of these", he said earlier in the interview.
The CNN host acknowledged he should have acted more promptly: "I agree that I should have interrupted after that line. I wish I had heard him say it, but I was distracted by tech difficulties (that's why the show open didn't look the way it normally does, I had two computers at the table, etc). Not hearing the comment is my fault", Stelter tweeted.
I agree that I should have interrupted after that line. I wish I had heard him say it, but I was distracted by tech difficulties (that's why the show open didn't look the way it normally does, I had two computers at the table, etc). Not hearing the comment is my fault.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 25, 2019
CNN itself has not commented on the controversial interview.
Twitter users, however, were not impressed with the CNN host’s belated response.
This is fine, Brian Stelter. Keep putting insane guests like this man on to trash the President. You're actually creating more voters for President Trump. I know many people who are voting for him in 2020 simply because of how the media treats him. 🤷🏼♀️
— Mandy ☕🦋🌼 (@SpringSteps) August 25, 2019
Odd how CNN, a network that has been around since I was a teenager has very specific “technical difficulties”, that cut off conservatives and disallows you to hear things you should have.
— Dude (@TheDeliveryDude) August 25, 2019
Not buying it Brian. You let this guy spout that BS, and backtracked when it went viral.
I just don't buy it.
— Michael (@mcaark) August 25, 2019
I have no reason to, you have a pattern of behavior of tolerating Leftist radicalism.
There's not really a reason to give you the benefit of the doubt here.
You don't agree. You had him on for this specifically. This is your CYA tweet to prevent the libel lawsuit later.
— Sheepdog Covfefe (@navymig) August 25, 2019
So it's pretty simple. Invite him again and this time check for technical difficulties before and interrupt him. Otherwise @realDonaldTrump is right to call you Fake News and enemy of the people
— Andi Lole (@andi_lole) August 25, 2019
Not hearing a comment of an interviewee is impressive, not hearing the BS that was spewed on YOUR show is egregious. Not having anyone on your staff hear it and notify you is journalistic malpractice. The fact that you wanted people to hear it is a disgrace.
— '32 Model 18 (@62_Continental) August 25, 2019
