Ever since Audie Cornish took over as host of CNN This Morning, we’ve been on a kvetch campaign over her failure to include Trump supporters on her reliably left-leaning panels. So it was surprising to see a welcome halt to this with the return of Republican strategist Brad Todd.
Introducing him, Cornish said it had been “a minute” since Todd last appeared. In fact, it’s been over two months, ever since Cornish assumed hosting duties in early March.
The topic was Trump’s views on the constitutional rights of immigrants, as expressed to Kristen Welker in a Meet the Press interview aired on Sunday. The words on screen mangled Trump into saying “‘I don’t know’ if I need to uphold Constitution.” Welker insisted that all non-citizens deserve due process. Liberals love the Constitution if it keeps illegal immigrants in America.
Todd repeatedly made the point that, contrary to what Trump critics have been “shrieking,” Trump is not defying the courts, but has appealed rulings up the judicial chain, and has indicated that he will abide by the Supreme Court’s rulings. That is precisely what Trump’s critics have been demanding, and Todd argued that they should give Trump credit for it.
CORNISH: So here, what I hear when conservatives talk about this due process issue is that it doesn’t count for immigrants. It doesn’t count for migrants. And we do know there are different rules in that respect, but what do you hear, the way the president answered? Because he was asked multiple times about this.
TODD: Well, he said he’s going to do what the court said. He said he’s going to follow what the Supreme Court said, and that is what all his critics —
CORNISH: But isn’t that like an obvious answer, the yes or no?
TODD: No, it wasn’t. Well, his critics have said for months, oh, he’s an authoritarian, he’s going to abolish the Supreme Court, he’s going to not hold elections.
He’s appealing decisions up the chain as they come. He says he’s going to follow the Supreme Court’s directives. This is what his critics want him to say! They should accede and give him credit for that.
For liberals demanding more transparency in government, Todd pointed out that Trump “has given more interviews in the past five months than Joe Biden gave in four years.”
Cornish shot back: “Yeah, well, the thing about giving interviews is then people scrutinize the answers, which is where we are now.” So when Biden fails to grant an interview to the alphabet of liberal networks, it’s just fine, there’s no controversy in the hiding. How convenient!
Here’s the transcript.
CNN This Morning
5/5/25
6:01 am EDTPRESIDENT TRUMP: I have to respond by saying again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.
AUDIE CORNISH: Those comments, as President Trump also weighed in on growing concerns about the economy, and of course speculation about him seeking a third term.
Joining me now in the group chat, Stephen Collinson, CNN politics senior reporter, Cari Champion, CNN contributor, and Brad Todd, Republican strategist. You guys, welcome back to the chat.
Okay, Brad, we haven’t seen you in a minute, so do you mind if I start with you?
BRAD TODD: Go ahead!
CORNISH: So here, what I hear when conservatives talk about this due process issue is that it doesn’t count for immigrants. It doesn’t count for migrants. And we do know there are different rules in that respect, but what do you hear, the way the president answered? Because he was asked multiple times about this.
TODD: Well, he said he’s going to do what the court said. He said he’s going to follow what the Supreme Court said, and that is what all his critics —
CORNISH: But isn’t that like an obvious answer, the yes or no?
TODD: No, it wasn’t. Well, his critics have said for months, oh, he’s an authoritarian, he’s going to abolish the Supreme Court, he’s going to not hold elections.
He’s appealing decisions up the chain as they come. He says he’s going to follow the Supreme Court’s directives. This is what his critics want him to say! They should accede and give him credit for that.
. . .
I feel like this is a conversational Trump. This is Trump in low-key mode. He also, by the way, we should note, has given more interviews in the past five months than Joe Biden gave in four years.
CORNISH: Yeah, well, the thing about giving interviews is then people scrutinize the answers, which is where we are now.
TODD: That’s right. That’s right. I want to go back to what Stephen [said, though, on the Abrego Garcia case, whether he’s complying or not. The case has been remanded down to the district court for clarification. It’s going to come back up to the Supreme Court.
Whether or not the administration is complying with the Court will happen once the Court makes its decision on the merits of the case. And I think we all know what we expect that to be. But let’s don’t prejudge that yet.
. . .
They are following what the court’s dicta is so far. And they should. That’s clearly what they have to do. But his critics for five months have been shrieking, oh, he’s preparing to defy the courts. He’s not doing that. And we should note it.
