CNN and Donald Trump Jr. tussled Saturday after the president’s eldest son accused the network of running only “fake news” and ignoring “real threats that don’t suit their agenda” because CNN declined to run an ad it deemed racist.
The dispute centered around the 30-second ad, shared by Trump Jr., that characterized a caravan of migrants heading toward the U.S.-Mexico border as an “invasion” of “dangerous” illegal immigrants.
“CNN refused to run this ad… I guess they only run fake news and won’t talk about real threats that don’t suit their agenda. Enjoy. Remember this on Tuesday. #vote #voterepublican,” Trump Jr. tweeted Saturday.
But CNN shot back at Trump Jr. with its reasoning for declining to air the ad.
“CNN has made it abundantly clear in its editorial coverage that this ad is racist. When presented with an opportunity to be paid to take a version of this ad, we declined. Those are the facts,” the network’s communications team tweeted in response.
CNN has made it abundantly clear in its editorial coverage that this ad is racist. When presented with an opportunity to be paid to take a version of this ad, we declined. Those are the facts. ?
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 3, 2018
President Trump has seized upon the caravan of migrants fleeing violence in Honduras and the broader issue of immigration in his final pitch to voters for why they should support Republicans in Tuesday’s elections.
The ad from Trump’s presidential campaign features footage of Luis Bracamontes, a twice-deported immigrant from Mexico who was sentenced to death for killing two California sheriff’s deputies in 2014.
“Dangerous illegal criminals like cop killer Luis Bracamontes don’t care about our laws,” the narrator in the ad states. “America cannot allow this invasion. The migrant caravan must be stopped.”
“President Trump and his allies will protect our border and keep our families safe,” it continues. “America’s future depends on you. Stop the caravan. Vote Republican.”
In the run-up to Tuesday’s midterms, the president has sent more than 5,200 active-duty troops to the border to deal with the caravan and told reporters he could deploy up to 15,000.
Trump also said his administration is finalizing a plan to crack down on asylum seekers, with a “comprehensive” executive order coming next week.
But the president’s critics have said Trump’s promises are a political ploy designed to mobilize his base as Republicans seek to maintain control of the House and Senate.
Experts have also raised concerns that Trump’s proposed changes for asylum-seekers, as well as a promise to end birthright citizenship through an executive order, are legally dubious.
