The former CNN boss criticizes media for exaggeration on Trump: Their "end of democracy" statements will result in a "credibility" crisis.

Chris Licht, the former CNN boss, criticized the "exaggeration" from legacy media prior to President-elect Donald Trump's historic victory last week.

During a talk at the Yahoo Finance Invest conference on Tuesday, Licht was queried about how the media can restore trust amidst the country's acceptance of a second Trump administration.

His counsel to his journalistic peers: "Take the opportunities that come your way."

"If someone kills eight people, don't say they killed nine," Licht said. "Trump's actions will require scrutiny, and we should sound the alarm bells. Don't predict what will happen next; instead, let's discuss what he did and its implications. The media often gets in trouble when they make predictions."

In June 2023, after serving as CNN's chairman and CEO for barely over a year, Licht criticized the "hyperbole" he had witnessed as a media observer regarding the impact of a second Trump presidency.

"If democracy is not the end in four years, then we have a credibility issue," Licht said. "Instead of assuming that the appointment of this person means they will do this, we should focus on their track record."

There will be plenty to discuss, with many controversial issues to consider. However, he and his team are well aware of their actions when they attempt to stir up outrage. If everything is considered an 11 and is outrageous, then it becomes easier to overlook things that should actually provoke outrage.

In 2022, David Zaslav, the chief of Warner Bros. Discovery, selected Licht to revive CNN's viewership and restore its journalistic credibility, after the network had spent years establishing a reputation as an anti-Trump news organization under Jeff Zucker.

Licht's attempts to remove the spectacle from CNN's coverage were met with resistance from the network's rank-and-file, despite his dismissal of prominent liberal on-air figures such as Brian Stelter, Don Lemon, and Jeffrey Toobin.

In May 2023, Licht lost the trust of CNN staff after the network hosted a Trump town hall, which led to widespread anger within the newsroom. Licht was fired by Zaslav shortly after.

In November 2024, CNN's financial struggles and low viewership persist, leading to the reversal of many of Licht's decisions. Stelter was reinstated as a media analyst, and Toobin and Lemon have made multiple guest appearances. CNN's anti-Trump coverage returned in full force, culminating in Election Day.

Mark Thompson, CNN's current head, has been given the responsibility of stopping the network's declining audience and revenue. CNN employees are reportedly "frustrated" due to the impending budget cuts and layoffs that may affect the network in the near future.