Trump town hall moderator Guthrie’s performance praised, slammed on Twitter

NBC’s Savannah Guthrie received praise and criticism from other members of the media across Twitter over her handling of a town hall on Thursday night with President Trump.

The “Today” show co-host faced some criticism for being biased while others praised her for tough questioning during the 60-minute event from Miami.

During the town hall event, Guthrie hit the president with questions for the first 24 minutes before audience members were brought in for questions. Overall, Guthrie asked 43 questions of Trump, while audience members were permitted to ask 10 questions, according to the town hall transcript. 

Prominent media members, including former “Today” show host Megyn Kelly, weighed in on social media. 

So far, this is not a town hall for voters, it is designed to appease the angry NBC employees/Dems who are pissed off Trump’s on NBC at all.

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 16, 2020

Sharp, tough questioning by @SavannahGuthrie, who is smartly following up to pin Trump down when he responds with vague or rambling answers.

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 16, 2020

I just switched to NBC since ABC is in a commercial. Savanah Guthrie has interrupted Trump in these 60 seconds more than Stephanopulos has done to Biden in 40 mins. NBC is an interrogation. ABC is a picnic.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) October 16, 2020

Savannah Guthrie is putting on a masterclass. Having fact checks ready. Not letting lengthy filibusters. Sharp questions, cutting in regularly to set the record straight and keep things focused.

Very similar to Wallace/Swan interviews.

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) October 16, 2020

While Savannah Guthrie debates @realDonaldTrump, George Stephanopoulos is playing patty-cake with Biden.

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) October 16, 2020

She is remarkably successful at interrupting the president. She cuts in and he yields. I don’t know what the secret is. https://t.co/YjmOhHe2M1

— Josh Barro (@jbarro) October 16, 2020

The feedback for Guthrie comes after NBC received considerable backlash on social media and elsewhere for scheduling the event at the same time as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s town hall on ABC, which was scheduled for more than a week before the Trump event was announced.

Network employees were reportedly upset that NBC scheduled the Trump event, while more than 100 celebrities penned an open letter urging the town hall to be canceled. Both Biden’s and Trump’s town halls were scheduled after the second presidential debate scheduled for the evening was canceled by the Commission on Presidential Debates after Trump refused a virtual debate following a positive coronavirus diagnosis.

The next and final presidential debate will take place on Oct. 22. NBC’s Kristen Welker will moderate.