CNN is facing backlash after airing a bizarre and widely mocked interview with a member of Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa Cartel, in which the network seemingly sought to elicit criticism of former President Donald Trump’s crackdown on cartel violence—only to be met with unexpected resistance to attack the president.
The segment, which aired Saturday, featured CNN’s Isobel Yeung speaking to a cartel gangster whose identity was concealed with a mask, sunglasses, and latex gloves. The interview took place in what the reporter described as a secret location in Mexico, just days after Trump reiterated his commitment to cracking down on cartels and labeling them terrorists due to their role in trafficking deadly drugs like fentanyl into the United States.
“According to the Trump Administration, you are a terrorist … what do you make of that?” Yeung asked pointedly.
Instead of lashing out at Trump, the cartel member gave a surprisingly measured response: “Well, the situation is ugly, but we have to eat.”
Yeung pressed further, asking what message he would deliver directly to Trump. The gangster’s answer caught many off guard: “My respect. According to him, he’s looking out for his people.” He went on to note, “The problem is the consumers are in the United States. If there weren’t any consumers, we would stop.”
The interview rapidly went viral online, drawing fierce criticism of CNN’s approach. Social media erupted with users accusing the network of desperately fishing for an anti-Trump soundbite—and failing spectacularly.
“CNN is in full meltdown mode. All their usual smear tactics have failed—again. So what’s their next brilliant move? Interviewing the freaking Sinaloa Cartel,” one user mocked on X (formerly Twitter). “They were clearly hoping for a ‘Trump is evil’ quote. Instead? Total backfire.”
Another chimed in, “Not the answer the Communist News Network wanted.”
Critics also blasted CNN for what they perceived as an attempt to humanize or even sympathize with violent criminals. “So CNN is worried about hurting the cartel’s feelings? This isn’t the flex they think it is—it’s insulting to Americans,” one viewer tweeted. Another added, “Unbelievably, CNN gives a cartel member a platform to throw a pity party, but he ends up acknowledging Trump is just looking out for his people.”
The interview comes as Trump’s administration and the U.S. Coast Guard continue high-profile operations to combat cartel activities. Earlier this year, authorities seized over $500 million worth of drugs in the Eastern Pacific, underscoring the severity of the cartel crisis.
Rather than damaging Trump’s image, CNN’s segment appears to have inadvertently bolstered his tough-on-crime stance—while further eroding trust in the network’s journalistic judgment.
“while further eroding trust in the network’s journalistic judgment”
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Did you mean, furthering their reputation as a purely politically driven editorial network without journalistic credibility?
CNN’s goal is not to help eliminate evil but to increase its value and destroy what us good!