CNN’s Erin Burnett claimed both on Twitter and her show on Monday that former Trump National Security Council spokesperson Michael Anton, writer of the now infamous “Flight 93” essay, canceled his previously confirmed appearance because “he couldn’t defend @realDonaldTrump” after the Putin presser:
Michael Anton, Former Trump NSC spox, cancelled his appearance on Outfront tonight because he couldn’t defend @realDonaldTrump today.
— Erin Burnett (@ErinBurnett) July 16, 2018
She made the claim on air as well:
"Michael Anton was going to be here … he canceled, and he knows I'm going to tell you this, because he said he could not defend the president on his actions today." – Erin Burnett explains the absence of Trump's fmr. National Security Council spokesman https://t.co/VYnxxVD4Je pic.twitter.com/nveQk3mvTy
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) July 16, 2018
But…
Anton later released this statement saying, “I did cancel, because I knew that whatever I said, CNN would try to use me as a cudgel with which to bash the President.”
He also accused CNN of threatening “to cite that withdraw on air to bash the President. And that’s exactly what they did”:
Statement correcting the record from former NSC Comms Director Michael Anton re CNN. Cc @ErinBurnett pic.twitter.com/ghcimn9T8S
— David Reaboi (@davereaboi) July 17, 2018
The account for “Out Front” responded, saying “his rep then canceled him late afternoon today explaining that Mr. Anton could not defend the press conference” and “No threats were ever made”:
We had Michael Anton, former Trump NSC spokesman, pre-booked and confirmed for a week. His rep then canceled him late afternoon today explaining that Mr. Anton could not defend the President on his press conference with Putin. No threats were ever made.
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) July 17, 2018
So, was there a misunderstanding here or what?
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