CNN anchor Dana Bash fired back on Monday after President Donald Trump accused the network of “hating our country” during a heated Oval Office exchange.
The confrontation took place during Trump’s meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, where CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins questioned Trump over the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a Maryland man with alleged MS-13 gang ties.
This is what leadership looks like. President Trump, Bukele, Marco Rubio, Pam Bondi, Stephen Miller — they’re standing up to the media’s absurd gotcha games. MS-13 isn’t coming back, and no amount of media spin will change that. America deserves safety, not soundbites from CNN. pic.twitter.com/9ILw20G8q3
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) April 14, 2025
At one point, Bukele praised Trump’s “remarkable” leadership on immigration and asked why those numbers weren’t being more widely reported. Trump quickly seized the moment to criticize the media, singling out CNN.
“Well, they get out … but the fake news,” Trump said, pointing toward reporters. “CNN over there doesn’t want to put them out because they don’t like putting out good numbers … because I think they hate our country. It’s a shame, really.”
Collins pressed Trump on whether he would comply with the Supreme Court’s directive to return Abrego Garcia to the United States.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, adviser Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio each took turns defending the administration’s decision to deport Abrego Garcia, arguing it was fully justified under immigration law and the president’s foreign policy authority.
“I don’t understand what the confusion is,” Rubio said. “This individual is a citizen of El Salvador, illegally in the U.S., and was returned to his country. Foreign policy is conducted by the president, not by the courts. No court has the right to conduct foreign policy. End of story.”
Miller echoed that view: “The Supreme Court said exactly what Marco said. No court can compel the executive branch on matters of foreign policy. We won that case 9-0. And as usual, CNN is spinning it as a loss because they want to keep dangerous foreign criminals in this country.”
When Collins asked again about following the court’s order, Trump grew visibly exasperated.
“How long do we have to answer this question from you,” Trump snapped. “Why don’t you just say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’ Why do you go over and over — this is why nobody watches you. You have no credibility.”
He also dismissed Collins as a “low-rated anchor,” adding, “Nobody watches you anymore.”
After CNN cut away from the remarks, Bash addressed Trump’s accusation directly.
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“I just want to say for the record: CNN does not hate our country,” said Bash, one of the network’s longest-tenured journalists and host of Inside Politics.
“That should go without saying. I’ve been here for 32 years. And I see a rhetorical device in him trying to say such a thing. That said, I want to focus on the news that we heard,” she added.
