According to reports, CNN is preparing to offer morning anchor Kaitlan Collins the prime-time slot formerly occupied by her former colleague Don Lemon.
Last year, Lemon was demoted from a prime-time slot and later joined Collins and network anchor Poppy Harlow on “CNN This Morning.”
Following poor ratings and a string of scandals, the network dismissed him on April 24, after 17 years on the job.
According to multiple reports, CNN CEO Chris Licht could offer Collins the large chair as early as next week, making her the network’s new face.
Dylan Byers of Puck News reported that Licht was considering Collins for prime time hours before her heavily criticized performance as the moderator of Wednesday’s town hall in New Hampshire, which featured former President Donald Trump.
According to Byers’ Wednesday report, she would receive the upcoming promotion regardless of her performance against Trump on Wednesday.
“Kaitlan’s offer is not contingent on her performance at tonight’s town hall, but, given the Trump X-factor, those 90 minutes have the potential to modify, accelerate, or stifle the arc of her career,” Byers said, according to Mediaite.
Byers added, “At the very least, her performance tonight will set the tone for a new Collins era at CNN, which, barring any f***-ups, will run at least through the 2024 presidential election.”
Collins’s behavior throughout the event has received widespread criticism.
The native of Alabama repeatedly interrupted Trump and recycled old narratives concerning the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 Capitol invasion.
In her attempts to “fact-check” the former president in real-time, she also repeated several untruths.
Collins lied about Trump’s attempts to deploy National Guard soldiers to Washington on January 6 and about the total number of miles of border wall built during his presidency.
What @kaitlancollins just said is a LIE.
Christopher Miller said UNDER OATH that President Trump did approve the national guard, and the DC Mayor refused the order.
I’ll have more to say after the Town Hall on CNN.
REMINDER 👇🏿 https://t.co/sWitSXLFq0
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) May 11, 2023
Kaitlan Collins flat out lied while fact checking Trump on Multiple occasions..
Here is # 1.
Collins Claimed Trump only built 55 miles of Border wall.
FALSE
Here are the real numbers from Customs and Border Patrol. pic.twitter.com/sFvNODoTbk
— The American Tribune (@TAmTrib) May 11, 2023
Her hostility toward Trump is unlikely to win over any conservative viewers who hoped CNN, under Licht’s leadership, would attempt to cultivate them.
In the meantime, many on the left were outraged that the network gave Trump a platform and vented their fury at Collins for losing control of the event.
Licht said on a conference call Thursday morning that he was struck by Collins. Former network presenter Brian Stelter reported this.
Chris Licht begins CNN's 9am editorial call by praising @kaitlancollins for a "masterful performance last night." He says "I couldn't be more proud of her" and the whole team in NH. Then he says he's aware of the backlash… More to come
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 11, 2023
The New York Post previously reported that Licht has long viewed Collins as the next “it girl” at CNN.