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.
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.