Full Breakdown
White House Criticizes CNN for Skipping Event Honoring Victims of Illegal Immigration
2/28/2026, 12:13:56 AM
Ceremony Honoring Angel Families
On February 22, 2023, President Donald Trump hosted a ceremony in the East Room of the White House to honor families of Americans who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants. During the event, Trump emphasized the emotional toll on these families, stating, "Throughout this hall, I am joined by heartbroken Americans who have lost parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and treasured loved ones to the scourge of illegal immigration, let in by the past administration." The ceremony concluded with Trump signing a proclamation designating the day as "National Angel Family Day," reaffirming the administration's commitment to a significant mass-deportation effort aimed at removing dangerous individuals from the country.
White House Response to Media Coverage
The White House expressed strong disapproval of CNN's decision not to provide live coverage of the event. Kaelan Dorr, deputy assistant to the President, criticized CNN's lack of coverage, labeling it as "Sick. Disgusting. Mask is off." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, stating, "@CNN is a total disgrace," and accused the network of neglecting the stories of victims of illegal immigrant crime. Leavitt argued that CNN's failure to cover the event demonstrated a disregard for the victims and a bias against narratives that do not align with their editorial stance.
Media Criticism and Counterarguments
Critics of CNN's coverage included Republican communicator Steve Guest, who pointed out that media bias is evident not only in the stories that receive attention but also in those that are overlooked. He highlighted the lack of coverage regarding the experiences of families affected by crimes committed by illegal immigrants. Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin added that if more Americans were aware of the impact of illegal immigration on citizens, they would likely shift their political allegiances away from the Democratic Party.
In response to the criticism, a CNN spokesperson stated that the network was focused on covering breaking news related to a historic blizzard impacting millions of Americans at the time of the White House event. CNN later published an article covering the ceremony, noting that Trump has frequently referenced "angel families" to justify his administration's stringent immigration policies. However, the article also mentioned that there is no substantial evidence indicating that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates than the general population.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the White House criticized CNN for its lack of live coverage, CNN's digital platforms did eventually report on the event, albeit after the fact. This discrepancy raises questions about the extent of media coverage and the narratives prioritized by different news organizations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Throughout this hall, I am joined by heartbroken Americans who have lost parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and treasured loved ones to the scourge of illegal immigration, let in by the past administration,” — President Donald Trump
- “President Trump is currently hosting a truly tear jerking event, signing a proclamation honoring Angel Families,” — Kaelan Dorr, Deputy Assistant to the President
- “Media bias isn’t just revealed in the stories that make headlines — it’s just as evident in the stories that never get told,” — Steve Guest, Republican Communicator
- “If Everyday Americans knew the devastation these criminal illegal aliens have wrought on American citizens, they would turn their back on the [Democrats].” — Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.
