On Monday, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt and other staff voiced their frustrations with CNN and MSNOW for not covering an event dedicated to families affected by crimes involving illegal immigrants.
President Trump proclaimed February 23 as “Angel Family Day” during this poignant gathering, which marked two years since the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by an undocumented immigrant. White House communications director Stephen Chan criticized the networks for their lack of coverage and expressed his disappointment about the event being overlooked.
“It’s appalling that CNN and MSNOW chose not to broadcast such a compelling and heartfelt event,” Chan remarked, pointing out a clip where Riley’s mother, Alison Phillips, spoke. He seemed to imply that the networks were dismissive of the victims and their families.
Kaylan Dole, the vice president of communications, added that it was unsettling that President Trump was hosting such an emotional event and that it went unnoticed by major networks. “I find it unacceptable,” he stated, emphasizing the media’s failure to prioritize these families’ stories.
Among those who spoke were police officers, and the discussions included a focus on incidents like Riley’s murder, which, as it turned out, involved her killer having previous legal troubles.
Leavitt condemned CNN for ignoring the event, labeling it a disgrace and arguing that their unwillingness to cover such topics shows a disregard for victims of crimes involving illegal immigrants. She suggested that the network’s editorial choices reflect a bias that hinders their credibility.
In another interaction, Leavitt responded to a comment from NBC News, explaining that the president was justified in his criticisms due to the media’s failure to report on the Angel family’s situation adequately. She reinforced her stance by highlighting the stories of individuals impacted by these issues, suggesting that networks like CNN avoid narratives that contradict their perspectives.
CNN later responded, stating that their coverage was centered on a major snowstorm affecting parts of the Northeast, which is why they couldn’t report on the event. However, this explanation has not quelled the discontent among White House officials regarding media priorities and coverage.
