CNN boss’ order on East Wing demolition coverage leaves staffers ‘taken aback’

CNN staffers were reportedly “taken aback” when their boss urged them to “ease up” on covering President Trump’s demolition of the East Wing after the network exec paid a rare visit to the White House.

CNN head Mark Thompson told staffers on an editorial call on Thursday that CNN’s viewership isn’t all that interested in the story, two people familiar with the matter told the Status newsletter.

Staffers reportedly took the comment from Thompson, who usually avoids getting into the weeds of editorial decisions, as “bizarre.”

CNN journalists were said to be “suspicious” of the timing of Thompson’s alleged comments — which came as Trump rapidly cleared the way for a $250 million ballroom where the East Wing used to be — according to Status. Staffers were reportedly left wondering “what coverage might be discouraged next.”

The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned news channel pushed back on the report from the Status newsletter over the weekend, saying there was “zero truth” to the reporting.

“This is reckless and irresponsible conjecture without any fact checking prior to publication,” a CNN spokesperson told The Post.

The network representative confirmed that Thompson visited the White House on Wednesday.

According to Status, Thompson was at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to introduce the network’s new direct-to-consumer streaming product, which is set to launch next week. It was not immediately known whom he met there.

Thompson — the former BBC and New York Times head who was tapped by WBD CEO David Zaslav to lead the struggling cable channel out of the ratings wilderness — wants to adopt a “big tent approach” to programming the new streaming service, according to Status.

The company is said to be keen on avoiding the disastrous fate that befell its previous streaming platform, CNN+, the brainchild of former CNN boss Jeff Zucker. The app was offed following the merger between Warner Media and Discovery.

Last week’s White House confab raised eyebrows in light of the fact that CNN’s corporate parent recently put itself up for sale after receiving several bids.

The Post reported last week that the Trump administration wants to see Paramount Skydance, which is owned by the son of Trump backer Larry Ellison, acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

Other companies that are said to be in the bidding mix include Netflix, Amazon and Comcast.

If Warner Bros. Discovery is sold off, Thompson is fully aware that his days as CNN president are numbered, according to Status.

“When that happens, Mark is out,” a confidant was quoted as telling Status.

CNN has had a historically contentious relationship with Trump, who has denounced the network as “fake news” while openly sparring with current and former star correspondents such as Kaitlin Collins and Jim Acosta.

Last week’s reported snafu over White House demolition coverage wasn’t the first time Thompson told CNN staffers to temper their criticisms of Trump.

In January, he told more than 100 journalists and top on-air talent including Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper to avoid “pre-judging” Trump while covering the inauguration, according to Status.

Thompson is said to have told his charges that they should avoid “expressing any outrage of their own” while also taking pains not to “relitigate the past,” the newsletter reported.

A CNN spokesperson declined to comment on the Status report from January. The Post has sought comment from the White House.