CNN faced criticism for interviewing a member of the Sinaloa Cartel regarding President Trump’s designation of them as terrorists.
The network aired a notable segment on Saturday that featured a masked cartel member, following Trump’s pledge to tackle the flow of drug trafficking and fentanyl into the US.
“The Trump administration labels you as a terrorist. What are your thoughts on that?” CNN’s Isobel Yeung posed to the cartel member.
The cartel representative, while obscured by a mask and sunglasses, responded, “It’s a tough situation, but we have to survive.”
The report indicated the interview took place in a concealed location in Mexico, and the reporter conveyed Trump’s stance to the cartel, eliciting an unexpected reaction.
“I respect that. He’s trying to look out for his people,” replied the cartel member. “But the challenge is, if there are no buyers, we’ll have to stop; that’s when we come to the US.”
The segment drew backlash on social media, where many accused CNN of attempting to solicit sympathetic answers from the cartel.
“CNN is in meltdown mode. All their typical smear tactics have backfired. What’s next? An interview with the Sinaloa cartel?” one user remarked on X.
Another user laughed, “That’s not the answer the news network was hoping for.” Meanwhile, others criticized CNN for trying to present the cartel in a sympathetic light.
“Is CNN actually concerned about the feelings of cartel members? This isn’t the statement they think it is. It’s unsettling for many Americans,” tweeted one person.
“It’s unbelievable that CNN gives cartel members a platform to express their grievances about being called terrorists, and yet they acknowledge Trump is simply ‘looking out for his people,'” another user commented.
