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A combative Donald Trump made a rare live appearance on the US news network CNN on Wednesday, repeating his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged, hurling insults and mocking a former magazine columnist he was found liable of sexually abusing and defaming.

Mr Trump, who is the front runner to be the Republican candidate for the US presidential election next year, took questions on a broad range of subjects including the war in Ukraine, the debt limit, immigration and his multiple legal challenges.

He said if he returned to the White House, he would pardon many of those jailed for taking part in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. As for his performance in the meeting with an audience largely made up of his supporters - Newsday got the reaction of Matt Mowers, former Republican Congressional Nominee in New Hampshire, who is now the president of political strategy firm Valcour LLC.

"The consistent challenge he's had is reaching out to independent voters... especially women voters - he didn't do that tonight. Politics is about addition and not subtraction. He will be well-served to focus on the future... those issues affecting people's lives. He certainly had supporters in the room... but the folks I spoke to remain unconvinced [that he could beat Joe Biden]."

(Pic: Donald Trump supporters outside a CNN campaign town hall event in New Hampshire, US; Credit: Reuters)

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