Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Slams CNN for Failing to Fact-Check Trump's Lies

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania criticized CNN for not correcting former President Donald Trump's false claims during his debate with President Joe Biden.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has sharply criticized CNN for its handling of the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, accusing the network of failing to fact-check Trump's numerous false and misleading statements.

In an interview with CNN host John Berman on Friday, Shapiro said, "Frankly, I think CNN could have done a better job in calling [Trump's] lies out." The governor, who has been mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for president in 2024, added that Trump's lies "needed to be corrected."

Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Slams CNN for Failing to Fact-Check Trump's Lies

Shapiro's criticism stems from Trump's repeated assertion during the debate that he had reduced prescription drug prices for Americans. This claim is false, as Trump's policies actually led to increased drug costs for many consumers.

Moreover, Shapiro pointed out that Trump also made false statements about his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump claimed that he had "saved millions of lives" with his policies, but in reality, the United States has one of the highest death tolls from COVID-19 in the world.

Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Slams CNN for Failing to Fact-Check Trump's Lies

Shapiro's remarks reflect a growing frustration among Democrats with the media's handling of Trump's falsehoods. Critics argue that networks like CNN are too often reluctant to challenge Trump's claims, even when they are clearly false.

CNN declined to comment on Shapiro's criticism. However, the network has previously defended its coverage of Trump, arguing that it is important to allow all candidates to express their views, even if those views are false.

Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Slams CNN for Failing to Fact-Check Trump's Lies

In the aftermath of the debate, CNN conducted a flash poll that showed Trump as the victor over Biden. The poll found that 67% of debate watchers felt that Trump won the debate, compared to 33% who believed Biden won.

The Biden campaign declined to comment on the poll results. However, the campaign has defended Biden's performance in the debate, arguing that he effectively countered Trump's attacks and laid out a clear vision for the future.

The debate has sparked a heated debate about the state of the Democratic Party and the media's role in holding politicians accountable. Critics argue that the Democratic Party needs to do a better job of communicating its message to voters and that the media needs to be more aggressive in fact-checking politicians' claims.

It remains to be seen whether the debate will have a significant impact on the 2024 presidential election. However, the controversy over CNN's handling of the event is likely to continue for some time.