According to a recent report, CNN’s chief, Mark Thompson, advised his team to scale back their coverage of Donald Trump’s controversial demolition of the White House’s East Wing. This directive came after Thompson’s private meeting at the White House, which took place the day before. Insiders revealed to Status that during a daily editorial call on Thursday, Thompson suggested the story wasn’t garnering much interest among viewers, despite polls indicating widespread public disapproval of the demolition.

The suggestion left CNN staffers taken aback, especially coming from a leader known for his typically hands-off management style. This has sparked curiosity about which other stories might be subject to similar scrutiny in the future. In response to the report, a CNN spokesperson criticized it as “reckless and irresponsible conjecture,” arguing that it lacked proper fact-checking before being published. Whether or not the East Wing was a topic of discussion during Thompson’s White House meeting remains unknown.

When questioned by the Daily Mail, a network spokesperson declined to provide details about the meeting’s content. Sources familiar with the situation told Status that both Thompson and Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav recognize the importance of maintaining a cooperative relationship with the White House. This guidance from Thompson surfaced as Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company, is reportedly up for sale, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

The White House is currently soliciting donations for construction of a ballroom where the East Wing stands from companies that are also potential buyers of WBD. For now, the fate of CNN remains uncertain. Thompson visited the White House Wednesday to show off CNN’s soon-to-be released streaming service, an insider told Status.

The trip also laid the groundwork for Trump officials to appear on CNN, the source said. It came as part of a a ‘big tent approach’ for programming for a finished product meant to reach all sides, an insider told Status. The new ‘All Access’ service is set to roll out Tuesday. The administration is facing plenty of negative coverage for its decision to demolish the East Wing without any notice.

Several networks obtained aerial images of the building completely in tatters late last week. The work is being done to make way for a $300million ballroom. The president previously promised the construction would not interfere with the mansion itself when it was announced in July. The ballroom is designed to accommodate hundreds for state dinners and other such events.