In a surprising shift from its historically combative stance, CNN’s new boss Mark Thompson has ordered his network’s top journalists and on-air talent, including heavyweights Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper, to dial back their criticism of President Donald Trump and avoid expressing “outrage” during his inauguration. The move, which was made clear during a virtual editorial meeting held just ahead of the 2025 inauguration, signals a dramatic change in CNN’s coverage under the new leadership of Thompson, compared to the openly hostile approach under his predecessor Jeff Zucker.

According to reports, Thompson addressed more than 100 staffers during the meeting, instructing them not to focus on Trump’s controversial legal issues, including his ongoing legal battles stemming from alleged “hush money” payments to Stormy Daniels. Instead, he called for a more neutral, even-handed approach to the coverage of Trump’s second term, urging journalists to be “open-minded” as the next four years unfold.

In what many observers see as a tacit acknowledgment of CNN’s struggle to recover its credibility, Thompson told staff to steer clear of relitigating the past and reminded them not to editorialize. His guidance came after years of CNN’s often adversarial coverage of Trump, with the network playing a major role in amplifying the former president’s controversies. For those who witnessed CNN’s fiery clashes with the Trump administration, this new direction feels like a major shift toward a more balanced approach.

Thompson’s request to refrain from editorializing was not well-received by some, but according to reports, no one spoke up during the meeting to challenge his message. The lack of dissent suggests that CNN’s top brass has solidified its stance, and employees have little room to push back. Some within the network, including executive editor Virginia Moseley, even joked about how CNN was “out of practice” covering Trump—a sign of the looming challenge the network faces in dealing with the relentless news cycle surrounding the former president.

For those who remember the confrontational days of CNN under Zucker’s leadership, including the infamous battles between White House correspondent Jim Acosta and Trump’s press office, this new directive from Thompson feels like an attempt to reset CNN’s relationship with Trump and his supporters. The network’s ratings under Zucker were consistently low in comparison to Fox News, which has long been the dominant network in covering Trump. In fact, CNN’s coverage of Trump’s second inauguration in 2025 pulled in just 1.135 million viewers, far below Fox News’ 10.3 million viewers, a reflection of CNN’s diminished relevance in a more fragmented media landscape.

CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is reportedly pushing for this more neutral tone as part of a broader strategy to reclaim credibility in the face of growing competition from both conservative outlets like Fox and progressive platforms like MSNBC. The network has made an effort to double down on its digital presence, touting a surge in viewers on CNN Max and its digital platforms on Inauguration Day. Yet, the television numbers are telling: Trump’s second inauguration saw the lowest viewership since Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013, marking a decline in traditional cable news audiences.

Thompson’s new approach also seems to have extended to the network’s coverage of Trump-aligned personalities. Jim Acosta, once a key figure in CNN’s heated exchanges with the Trump administration, is reportedly being moved to a late-night slot with lower viewership. This move further suggests that CNN is distancing itself from the combative approach that characterized its coverage during the first Trump administration.

While Thompson’s strategy may be seen as an attempt to moderate CNN’s tone, many conservative viewers and Trump supporters may remain skeptical. After years of antagonism, they may wonder if this newfound “neutrality” is truly sincere or just a desperate attempt to recapture lost audiences. Only time will tell whether CNN’s pivot will pay off in the ratings battle or if viewers will see it as too little, too late.