This gave Trump national exposure in American Homes and helped ease his way into politics. Then Zucker took over CNN that was ailing at the time, and the Trump candidacy, and the coverage CNN gave it, boosted CNN, and gave Trump free advertising press that other candidates didn’t get. A Quid Pro Quo so to speak. Trump was a ratings machine. CNN was making money.
Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS, said of the Trump phenomenon in March 2016, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “The money’s rolling in, and this is fun. It’s a terrible thing to say. But bring it on, Donald. Keep going.”