A heated CNN segment took a dramatic turn Friday night when podcast host and TikTok personality Leigh McGowan —known online as PoliticsGirl— falsely claimed that President Donald Trump said Democrats “should be killed” during his State of the Union address.
The moment unfolded on CNN’s Newsnight as the panel debated Trump’s reported push for a federal ban on Anthropic AI and broader concerns about artificial intelligence being used by the government. McGowan, arguing against expanded AI authority, veered into explosive territory.
“I am called a domestic terrorist constantly by my government,” McGowan said. “My president just stood at the State of the Union and said the Democrats are evil monsters who should be killed.”
The claim immediately drew pushback.
“Oh, no, no, no. The president did not say that,” conservative strategist Tim Parrish shot back. “Wait a minute. You have to be accurate.”
Host Abby Phillip stepped in, urging McGowan to clarify. “Let’s give her an opportunity to correct what she said,” Phillip said, pressing the issue as McGowan initially attempted to pivot.
After further prompting, McGowan conceded.
“He did not say — he said we were the enemy, and we were terrible. Would you say that that is fair?” she asked.
Parrish responded that Trump had referred to Democrats as “crazy” during the address, not that they should be killed.
“I was being hyperbolic, and I apologize,” McGowan admitted.
“Well, you have to be accurate, not hyperbolic,” Parrish replied.
CNN’s political rage baiter Leigh McGowan is the Queen of the Karen’s in network news, LOL.
She’s now facing a potential investigation by the FCC after saying on air that Trump called for Democrats to “be killed.” Absolutely false, and she should be fired! pic.twitter.com/5rxSSCmoCU
— Mike Engleman🇺🇲 (@RealHickory) March 1, 2026
The exchange came amid a broader debate over Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s reported refusal to allow the Department of War to use his company’s artificial intelligence tools for “all lawful purposes.” Amodei has expressed concern the technology could potentially be used for “mass domestic surveillance” or “fully autonomous weapons.”
McGowan defended Amodei’s stance, arguing that government power combined with advanced AI could lead to dangerous outcomes.
“My point is, if the man and the government who have already made half the country the enemy — the enemy from within, the domestic terrorists — if they are already using ICE to shoot American citizens in the street and then not investigate it… then give them control over machines that can take us out at will… that seems like an incredibly bad idea,” she said.
Parrish dismissed the argument outright. “What sci-fi world are you living in?” he responded.
The White House also weighed in. Spokesman Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital, “Leigh McGowan, whoever the hell that is, should see a psychiatrist immediately for her severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.” He added that during the State of the Union, Trump had said, “We must reject political violence of any kind.”
The clash underscores the increasingly charged atmosphere surrounding AI policy, immigration enforcement, and political rhetoric — where hyperbole can quickly spiral into headline-making controversy.
