If you tuned in to CNN this week, you might’ve caught a pretty awkward moment. And if you didn’t, don’t worry—it’s all over the web.
During a recent Oval Office meeting on April 14, 2025, between President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump took a jab at CNN right to their faces.
“They hate America,” Trump said, gesturing toward the CNN crew in the room.
Bukele: “What you’re doing with the border is remarkable. It’s dropped, what, 95%?”
Trump: “As of this morning, 99.1% to be exact.”
Bukele: “Why are those numbers not in the media?”
Trump: “CNN over here doesn’t want to put them out. I think they hate our country, actually.” pic.twitter.com/PDOJbymavs
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 14, 2025
It’s long been established that President Trump is no fan of the media—especially CNN.
But this time, the network didn’t just let it slide.
Dana Bash Tries to Clap Back
Shortly after the meeting, CNN anchor Dana Bash jumped on-air and delivered a little disclaimer to viewers:
“CNN does not hate our country.”
Dana Bash: “CNN does not hate our country.” pic.twitter.com/GWe7aGUJdX
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) April 14, 2025
Cue the social media firestorm.
The clip spread like wildfire on X (formerly Twitter), where conservatives and media watchdogs immediately weighed in.
Let’s just say… a lot of folks weren’t buying it.
“Tell Me You Hate Us Without Telling Me You Hate Us”
To many on the right, Bash’s defense felt more like damage control than a genuine statement.
After years of CNN anchors calling Trump supporters “extremists,” warning about “threats to democracy,” and painting every conservative as a danger to society, the idea that CNN is now waving the patriotic flag struck people as, well… a bit rich.
Saying ‘CNN does not hate our country’ is like a cat saying it doesn’t hate dogs—while it hisses at every one it sees.
It’s not just that conservatives feel CNN has a liberal bias.
It’s that the coverage, tone, and constant doom-and-gloom headlines make many feel like CNN is rooting against the country when Republicans are in charge.
Trump’s America-First Message Resonates
Say what you will about Trump, but the man knows how to hit a nerve—and in this case, he did just that.
In front of a world leader who’s also shaking up the establishment in his own country, Trump took the moment to highlight what he sees as a major threat at home: a media that’s more interested in scoring political points than reporting the truth.
And the fact that Dana Bash felt the need to immediately respond only made the comment hit harder.
Why This Moment Matters
This isn’t just another media tiff. It’s a snapshot of something deeper happening in the country.
A 2024 Gallup poll showed only 32% of Americans have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in mass media. That’s one of the lowest numbers in history.
Of course, plenty of folks on the left praised Dana Bash for standing up to Trump and defending CNN’s “journalistic integrity.”
But that praise mostly came from the usual crowd—media insiders, Democrat consultants, and the handful of people who still think Don Lemon got a raw deal.
For everyday Americans—especially conservatives—the reaction was more of a laugh and an eye-roll.
Put Your Money Where Your Loud Mouth Is
It’s not what Dana Bash says that matters. It’s what CNN does.
For years, their actions have made it pretty clear which direction they lean—and it ain’t toward the flag.
So sure, CNN can say they don’t hate America.
But when their prime-time lineup sounds more like a resistance rally than a news broadcast, it’s going to be a hard sell.
As the old saying goes: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck… maybe don’t lecture us on how patriotic it is.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
