Overview

• CNN aired an interview with a masked Sinaloa Cartel member, asking about President Trump's designation of the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
• The cartel member expressed 'respect' for Trump, stating the designation reflects his efforts to protect Americans, while also pointing to U.S. drug consumption as the root cause of cartel activity.
• The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called the interview 'despicable' and criticized CNN for providing a platform to a violent criminal group.
• Conservative media and social media users mocked CNN for allegedly seeking an anti-Trump soundbite, which backfired when the cartel member refrained from criticizing the president.
• CNN defended its reporting approach, emphasizing the importance of documenting the complexities of the drug trade and the impact of U.S. policies on cartel operations.