CNN chief executive Mark Thompson instructed reporters to scale back coverage of President Donald Trump’s controversial White House East Wing demolition during an editorial call on Thursday, October 23, 2025, just one day after the network boss made a rare visit to the White House, according to multiple reports.
Thompson met with Trump on Wednesday, October 22, at the White House, ostensibly to promote CNN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming product and to source potential Trump administration officials for network appearances. The following morning, during a daily network editorial meeting, Thompson suggested to staff that CNN viewers were not particularly interested in stories about the East Wing’s destruction, according to two people familiar with the matter cited by Status newsletter.
The timing of Thompson’s directive struck many CNN employees as bizarre and raised immediate concerns about editorial independence. Multiple staffers were reportedly taken aback by the request, particularly since Thompson, who also holds the title of editor-in-chief, typically refrains from directly involving himself in day-to-day coverage decisions. Some journalists at the network expressed unease about what coverage might be discouraged in the future.
CNN vigorously denied the allegations. A network spokesperson told the Daily Beast there was “zero truth to the conjecture in this [Status] column that was not fact checked before publication.” The spokesperson confirmed Thompson visited the White House but characterized the Status report as reckless and irresponsible conjecture.
The controversy erupted as Trump proceeded with his $300 million ballroom project, which required demolishing the historic 1902 East Wing structure. The massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be almost twice the size of the rest of the White House. The demolition prompted widespread criticism from prominent figures, including Chelsea Clinton, who said Trump was taking a wrecking ball to American heritage, and Patti Davis, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, who described the destruction as heartbreaking.
Public opinion polling reflected significant opposition to the project. A YouGov America survey conducted last week showed that 53 percent opposed tearing down the East Wing. Only 24 percent of the almost 2,000 people polled approved of Trump’s ballroom designs.
Thompson’s background includes high-profile leadership roles at major news organizations. The British media executive previously served as director-general of the BBC before becoming chief executive of The New York Times Company. He joined CNN in 2023 and has been pushing to reposition the network’s editorial approach.
In a recent interview with Mediaite, Thompson outlined his vision for CNN’s coverage strategy. He indicated the network should feature a broad range of political voices on air rather than positioning itself as centrist. Thompson stated: “Strategically best positioning CNN is that we are actually a news service … as opposed to an opinion and debate service masquerading as a news service.”
The reported incident adds to growing tensions between major media organizations and the Trump administration. CNN has maintained a historically contentious relationship with the president, who has repeatedly denounced the network as fake news. Earlier this month, Trump called CNN Senior White House Correspondent Kristen Holmes “one of the worst reporters” before refusing to take her question and declaring that CNN is “dying like a dog.”
The controversy comes at a precarious time for CNN’s corporate parent. Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced it is exploring a sale after receiving multiple expressions of interest from potential buyers. Paramount Skydance, owned by David Ellison, son of Trump supporter Larry Ellison, has emerged as a potential suitor. Industry observers note that Ellison may be the only potential buyer who would receive approval from the Trump administration broadcast regulators.
According to Status, Thompson is aware that his tenure as CNN president could be limited if Warner Bros. Discovery changes ownership. A confidant told the newsletter that when the sale happens, Thompson will likely be out. Other companies reportedly interested in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery include Netflix, Amazon, and Comcast.
This is not the first time Thompson has issued guidance about covering Trump. In January, he convened a virtual meeting with more than 100 journalists and top on-air talent, including Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, to discuss inauguration coverage. During that meeting, Thompson reportedly instructed staff to avoid pre-judging Trump while covering the inauguration, and cautioned against expressing outrage, instead urging them to focus on the new administration with an open mind.
The network’s approach to Trump coverage has drawn scrutiny from multiple angles. Earlier this year, CNN faced criticism for reportedly planning to move longtime Trump critic Jim Acosta from his mid-morning slot to a midnight time slot, which some characterized as an attempt to appease the White House.