The White House sharply criticized CNN on Monday after the network declined to air live coverage of an East Room event honoring so-called “Angel Families.” As reported by Fox News, officials labeled the decision a “total disgrace,” escalating tensions between the administration and the cable news outlet.
President Donald Trump hosted the ceremony, bringing together families who say they lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. During the event, Trump said he was “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.” Several family members spoke about their experiences, and Trump signed a proclamation designating February 22 as “National Angel Family Day.”
Following the event, the White House issued a statement pledging to “recommit to carrying out the largest mass-deportation effort in our Nation’s history” and to prioritize public safety and law enforcement. Officials framed the ceremony as part of a broader push to spotlight victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
White House criticizes CNN over coverage decision
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused CNN of refusing to air “even one second” of the ceremony. She wrote that the network “doesn’t care about the victims of illegal alien crime” and “pretend[s] to be a news organization, but they refuse to cover anything that doesn’t fit the Left’s narrative,” adding that the outlet is losing viewership, as Supreme Court tariff ruling continued to dominate related political discussion.
Deputy communications director Kaelan Dorr also criticized the network, calling the lack of coverage “sick” and “disgusting” and describing the event as “truly tear jerking.” When a senior White House correspondent questioned Trump’s criticism of the press, Leavitt said the president’s comments were directed at networks that “refuse to cover the stories of Angel Families.”
CNN did not air the event live during the 11:00 AM hour while it was taking place. Shortly after 12:00 PM, a reporter referenced Trump’s remarks, noting that he was criticizing media coverage during his speech. A network spokesperson said CNN was focused on “the breaking news around the historic blizzard impacting millions of Americans” at the time, while new Xbox leadership was also drawing attention in broader coverage.
CNN’s digital coverage included an article about the event that also noted Trump has frequently cited “angel families” when advocating for hardline immigration policies. The piece added that there is no data supporting claims that immigrants commit crimes at higher rates than the general population.
Republican officials and commentators continued to criticize what they described as selective media coverage. Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin argued that greater public awareness of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants would shift political support, underscoring the broader partisan divide surrounding immigration and media coverage.
Published: Feb 23, 2026 08:45 pm