White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted CNN for giving a “despicable” platform to a terrorist after the network aired an interview with a member of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, a group now officially designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
Key Takeaways
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned CNN for conducting what she called a “softball interview” with a member of the Sinaloa Cartel
- The interview, aired on May 2 by CNN correspondent Isobel Yeung, featured a cartel member involved in fentanyl production who was granted anonymity
- President Trump’s administration has officially designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a foreign terrorist organization
- Leavitt and other conservatives criticized CNN for giving a platform to a terrorist organization responsible for American deaths
- The controversy highlights growing tensions between the administration and legacy media over coverage of border security issues
A “Despicable” Platform for Terrorists
During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t mince words when asked about CNN’s recent interview with a member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Leavitt expressed shock at seeing the interview while scrolling through Instagram, noting it “stopped me in my tracks” not only because CNN had interviewed a member of an organization now designated as a foreign terrorist group, but because of the nature of the questions asked. The interview, conducted by CNN International Correspondent Isobel Yeung, aired on May 2 and featured a disguised cartel member involved in the production of fentanyl, a drug responsible for tens of thousands of American deaths annually.
“It was quite despicable, but again, this is just another reason why the trust in the legacy media is at an all-time low amongst the American public,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary.
Softball Questions to a Deadly Organization
The CNN interview, which blurred the cartel member’s face and concealed his location to protect his identity, has drawn fierce criticism from the administration and conservative commentators. During the segment, Yeung asked the cartel member about his thoughts on being designated a terrorist by President Trump and inquired if he had a message for the President. These questions, rather than focusing exclusively on the cartel’s violent criminal activities, sparked outrage among conservatives who viewed the interview as normalizing or even humanizing a deadly criminal organization. The Sinaloa Cartel has been linked to countless murders, drug trafficking operations, and other violent crimes affecting both Mexico and the United States.
“Well, it was fascinating to me, Sean. I was scrolling on Instagram when I came across this interview, And it stopped me in my tracks, not just because they sat down with a member of a Mexican cartel that is now designated as a foreign terror organization by the United States government, but because of the nature of the questions of this notorious foreign terrorist,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary.
Questions of Journalistic Ethics
The controversy has ignited a debate about journalistic ethics and responsibility in covering terrorist organizations. While CNN defenders might argue that the interview provided insight into cartel operations and thinking, critics contend that giving such platforms to terrorist groups serves to legitimize them. Leavitt specifically took issue with what she characterized as the “softball” nature of the interview, arguing that CNN failed to adequately challenge the cartel member on the deaths and destruction his organization has caused. Fox News host Lawrence Jones echoed this sentiment, questioning why CNN didn’t press harder on the cartel’s violence against women and children.
“I don’t care what he thinks about the president. What about all the girls that you raped doing the drug trade?” stated Lawrence Jones, Fox News host.
Supporters of the administration view the interview as part of a pattern of media behavior that undermines President Trump’s border security efforts. Since taking office, Trump has made combating cartels and stopping the flow of fentanyl across the southern border top priorities. The formal designation of the Sinaloa Cartel as a foreign terrorist organization gives law enforcement additional tools to combat the group, including enhanced penalties for those providing material support to the cartel. This context makes CNN’s decision to air the interview particularly controversial, as it comes at a time when the administration is taking unprecedented steps to cripple the organization’s operations.
Growing Divide Between Administration and Media
The fierce reaction to the CNN interview highlights the increasingly contentious relationship between the Trump administration and mainstream media outlets. Leavitt’s statement that trust in legacy media is “at an all-time low” reflects the administration’s broader criticism of news organizations they view as hostile to their agenda. This particularly applies to coverage of border security and immigration policy, where the administration believes media often downplays the criminal activities of cartels while criticizing enforcement measures. The controversy also underscores the Trump administration’s focus on the southern border and drug trafficking, central issues in President Trump’s policy platform.
“It was a softball interview giving a platform to a notorious drug cartel that has killed American citizens,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary.
CNN has yet to issue a formal response to the criticism from the White House. The network’s defenders point out that Yeung did ask challenging questions about violence and remorse, though critics maintain these were insufficient given the gravity of the cartel’s crimes. This latest media controversy is unlikely to be the last as tensions between the administration and news organizations continue to simmer amid ongoing efforts to secure the border and combat the fentanyl crisis that has devastated communities across America.
