EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Donald Trump urged CNN to take a normal path during a rare telephone interview on the network following the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used a rare appearance on CNN in July to renew his criticism of the network, telling anchor Jake Tapper that his administration was “trying to have CNN go on a normal path” during an unexpected telephone interview focused primarily on the death of longtime Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The brief exchange occurred July 12, 2026, on CNN’s State of the Union, marking an unusual moment in the relationship between Trump and a network he has repeatedly criticized over the years.