Campaign 2020 October 14, 2020

NBC Under Fire For Agreeing To Host In-Person Trump Town Hall

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: U.S. President Donald exits Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on October 1, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump traveled to Bedminster, New Jersey for a roundtable event with supporters and a fundraising event. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Commission on Presidential Debates concluded that holding an in-person town hall wasn’t a good idea this week saying it wanted to do the debate virtually, “in order to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate.” Donald Trump complained he didn’t want to do a virtual debate so the event was canceled. But now, thanks to NBC News, the current president gets what he wanted, an in-person town hall.

.@NBCNews will host a live town hall event with President Trump, moderated by @SavannahGuthrie tomorrow at 8 p.m. The event is set to take place outdoors and accordance with guidelines set forth by health officials. pic.twitter.com/0jffij4PpZ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 14, 2020

NBC is getting roasted for deciding to go ahead with this town hall, knowing that Trump is still in the recommended quarantine period after his coronavirus diagnosis. It sparked the Twitter hashtag #BoycottNBC.

After dropping out of an official Commission on Presidential Debates sanctioned town hall—the first President ever to do so—Trump gets 90 minutes of free air time without his opponent https://t.co/wwqoxomlqR
— David Freedlander (@freedlander) October 14, 2020

Really NBC? #BoycottNBC toddler trump had his chance and declined and Biden scheduled his town hall first. You guys suck for this.
No trump town hall. He can wait for the next debate on the 22. #BoycottNBC
— quite the character? (@yayo515) October 14, 2020

Outrageous that you’re giving him this platform after he cowardly backed out of the debate. #BoycottNBC
— janefriesen (@janefriesen) October 14, 2020

Some people also are expressing their opinion that NBC shouldn’t have held this at the exact same time as ABC’s town hall with Joe Biden.

NBC News @NBCNews

Shame on you! It was Trump who cancelled on scheduled debate. You KNOW this. If you broadcast against Biden Town Hall, you will be hounded till the end of your broadcast days. DO NOT SCHEDULE AGAINST the other Town Hall. Schedule ANOTHER TIME SLOT#BoycottNBC https://t.co/6OpNWtmghp
— Tomi T Ahonen Ruthlessly (@tomiahonen) October 14, 2020

Giving Trump a town hall AT THE SAME TIME as Biden's town hall because Trump's recklessness with COVID disqualified him from a debate for health concerns is amongst the most ridiculous things I have heard #BoycottNBC
— Bits and Pieces (@BrutallyRandom) October 14, 2020

So NBC is rewarding trump's lack of sense by giving him a town hall at the SAME TIME as Joe Biden's town hall on ABC.

Guess I won't be watching NBC any more, because that is some STUPID scheduling. #BoycottNBC https://t.co/4bk357sr3B
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) October 14, 2020