CNN
The activist-turned-cable news star may want to rethink his interview strategy after this disaster.
Van Jones didn't win over any new fans while interviewing President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner on CNN Monday morning.
In fact, he may have lost some.
The network personality sat down with Kushner at an event called Citizen CNN, a day-long political forum featuring discussions with thought leaders and newsmakers. Viewers were immediately turned off by one of his first questions: "How did you get this job? You have like the dopest job in the world, the secretary of everything ... how did you wind up in this position?"
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View StoryPeople considered that answer pretty obvious -- he's married to Ivanka Trump! And it was downhill from there, with many critics -- a mix of media professionals and average viewers -- faulting Jones for asking softball questions about prison reform, peace in the Middle East, working with his wife, and trusting Saudi Arabia in wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. One of Jones' most ridiculed questions was simply, "Are you having fun?"
"Nobody cares if Jared is 'having fun,' this interview is an embarrassment," tweeted journalist Aaron Rupar.
Some of the harshest criticism came from former CNN star Soledad O'Brien, who was so unimpressed with the interview she tweeted, "This cannot be real." She followed that up with, "Van is a terrible, fawning interviewer."
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View StorySee more of the savage reactions that boosted Jones' name toward the top of the Twitter trends earlier today.
This cannot be real. Please tell me this is sarcasm. https://t.co/Q2czYmhXUe
@soledadobrien
Sooooo. Van is a terrible, fawning interviewer and has no idea what a decent follow up question is. I think we've pretty much established that. https://t.co/BkHovVpMjb
@soledadobrien
Such a good opportunity for a follow up: what WAS accomplished? The campaign WAS notoriously disorganized? Jesus, it's just a pathetic intv. https://t.co/Q8rVh7wSuv
@soledadobrien
This puff piece of an “interview” between Jared Kushner and Van Jones on CNN is just the latest reminder that 95% of the time, cable news isn't news. It's just ratings driven schlock. It's an entertaining way to be disinformed.
@PalmerReport
If cancel culture was real, we wouldn't be still suffering through Van Jones. pic.twitter.com/eVpvr7OOGI
@KirkWrites79
Really Van Jones... pic.twitter.com/wjnipQgl5r
@LMiami517
Sadly, @VanJones68 gets literally ZERO respect from me going forward. You CAN be civil AND get to the meat of a question. You CAN be calm and polite while asking pointed questions. You CAN NOT be taken seriously when lobbing soft-balls at the guy behind "secret channels"
@BasementCatERE
van jones is a joke
@owillis
Don't have a problem with Van Jones interviewing Jared Kushner.
@adamcbest
Do have a problem with Jones asking Kushner Fox-style softball questions.
Van Jones is the Kim Kardashian of politics.
@thewayoftheid
You never go full Van Jones.
@MatthewACherry
So #VanJones just told #JaredKushner he's proud to work with him. Why Van, why??
@peterdaou
Van Jones interviewing Kushner asking how he got the "dopest job in the world"?, MSNBC having Lewandowski and Scarmucci on? I don't have words for how deeply destructive this is.
@JenniferReitman
Van Jones never fails to ask the stupidest questions no one is thinking while thinking he's a genius at doing it. Got to give him credit tho-it's not easy to upstage Jared Kushner for biggest dbag in the room. pic.twitter.com/X8AJS6zSwQ
@girlsreallyrule
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