Former President Donald Trump made false claims that CNN anchor Anderson Cooper had coached writer E. Jean Carroll to level rape accusations against him during a 2019 interview. Trump alleged that Cooper had prompted Carroll to change her demeanor after a commercial break. Cooper, who rarely responds to Trump’s attacks, addressed the accusations on his show, debunking the conspiracy theory. He explained that the interview was pre-recorded, and there was no coaching during a commercial break. Raw footage of the interview was played to prove Trump’s claims wrong. Cooper pointed out that Trump often disregards evidence and proper conduct in his statements.
Trump’s allegations against Cooper were brought up as he appealed a $5 million judgment in the civil case filed by Carroll, who accused him of sexually abusing and defaming her. Trump claimed that Judge Lewis Kaplan prevented his attorneys from introducing CNN interview outtakes to prove his point. Cooper addressed Trump’s previous statements suggesting a plot to manipulate Carroll into making accusations against him. Cooper played clips from the interview to show the truth about what had transpired during the commercial break. He emphasized that the interview was pre-recorded, and there was no coaching involved as claimed by Trump.
Cooper dismissed Trump’s conspiracy theory as “demonstrably false” and highlighted the intricacies of the interview process to refute the accusations. He mentioned that Trump had brought up similar allegations during a deposition for the trial. Despite Trump’s habitual attacks and falsehoods, Cooper decided to respond to set the record straight and provide evidence of what actually occurred during the interview. Cooper’s decision to address the baseless claims was a departure from his usual practice of ignoring Trump’s attacks, showcasing the severity of the false accusations made by the former president.
In response to Trump’s attempts to discredit him through unfounded claims, Cooper took the opportunity to present facts and evidence to debunk the conspiracy theory. By playing raw footage of the interview and explaining the pre-recording process, Cooper aimed to demonstrate the truth behind Trump’s false assertions. Cooper also highlighted the importance of evidence and proper conduct in addressing such serious allegations. Despite Trump’s history of making disparaging remarks and spreading falsehoods, Cooper chose to address this particular instance to defend himself and uphold the integrity of journalism.
Throughout the episode of his show where he addressed Trump’s accusations, Cooper maintained a professional demeanor and focused on providing a factual account of the events surrounding the interview with E. Jean Carroll. He reiterated the importance of evidence and credibility in addressing serious allegations of sexual assault and defamation. Cooper’s response to Trump’s false claims served as a testament to his commitment to upholding journalistic integrity and setting the record straight in the face of baseless attacks. By presenting the facts and debunking the conspiracy theory, Cooper sought to refute Trump’s attempts to discredit him and manipulate the narrative surrounding the allegations made by Carroll.
