CNN has denied rumors circulating on social media that its broadcast of Thursday’s first presidential debate would be delayed.
The report said the network extended its broadcast delay from the usual seven seconds to one to two minutes, with critics of the network arguing it was using the extra time to clean up Biden’s performance for viewers.
“CNN is a propaganda network for the Democratic Party and Joe Biden.”
Among those spreading the rumor was Donald Trump Jr., the official account for “X,” the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Live broadcasts are on a seven-second delay. Why on earth would CNN need to be on a one- or two-minute delay unless they have a special show coming up. [sic] “Are you trying to manipulate tonight’s debate?” he asked rhetorically.
“The same goes for Biden refusing to take a drug test. If he wasn’t high on any drugs, why wouldn’t he take such a simple test?” he added.
The tweet was Deleted later After CNN denied the rumors.
“This is false. The debate will begin live at 9pm ET,” a post from CNN’s public relations account said.
The Trump campaign has been harsh on CNN on a number of fronts. During a guest appearance on CNN, Trump campaign national press secretary Caroline Leavitt blasted the network for its choice of debate moderator, and anchor Casey Hunt ended the interview before blasting the Trump campaign for criticizing CNN reporters.
“Please come on my show and respect my colleagues. Period. I don’t care what side you’re on as my record clearly shows,” Hunt wrote in a message on “X,” the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Levitt continued his campaign against CNN on other shows and podcasts.
“CNN is a propaganda network for the Democrats and Joe Biden. They have endlessly lied about President Trump,” she later said. [the] From the Russia hoax to the Charlottesville lie to the Hunter Biden laptop. They’ve been defending Joe Biden for the last few years.”
Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas also called for Biden to submit to a drug test before the debate.
“President Biden, ahead of the first 2024 Presidential debate scheduled for June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, and on behalf of millions of concerned Americans, I request that you submit to clinically validated drug testing to reassure the American people that you are mentally healthy as president and are not relying on performance-enhancing drugs to aid your performance in the debate or in the day-to-day performance of your duties as President of the United States,” he wrote.
“This drug testing should occur both immediately prior to and following the debate and should include, but not be limited to, performance-enhancing drugs,” Jackson wrote.
Trump said he would be willing to take a drug test if Biden was willing to do so.
Biden’s campaign Rejected He called the proposal “desperate” and said Trump was “desperate” about the proposal.
“Donald Trump is so afraid of being held accountable for his harmful policies that attack reproductive freedom and cut Social Security that he and his allies are desperately telling patently false lies,” a campaign spokesman said in a statement.
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