A CNN political analyst is facing backlash after appearing to downplay President Donald Trump’s Angel Families Remembrance Ceremony — an event honoring Americans whose loved ones were killed by illegal immigrants.
The controversy erupted after CNN declined to air the ceremony live, prompting the White House to call out the network publicly. The event, held in the East Room of the White House, featured emotional tributes to families who have lost parents, children, siblings, and grandparents in crimes committed by individuals who entered the country illegally.
“Throughout this hall, I am joined by heartbroken Americans who have lost parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and treasured loved ones to the scourge of illegal immigration, let in by the past administration,” Trump said during the ceremony.
But earlier in the day, during a CNN segment previewing Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, CNN host Audie Cornish asked a panel to weigh in on how the president might frame his remarks amid polling challenges.
Seung Min Kim, an Associated Press White House reporter and CNN political analyst, pointed to the ceremony as a preview of the president’s broader messaging strategy. However, her phrasing immediately drew attention.
“I think what we’re actually getting a little preview of, kind of the theme of his address later today at The White House, when he hosts the so-called ‘Angel Moms,’” Kim said, appearing to question the label used for the grieving families.
She added that Trump would likely focus heavily on immigration during what she described as his “big State of the Union week.”
“But as we see in the poll, the number one concern for voters continues to be affordability,” Kim continued, referencing a CNN poll showing economic issues topping voter priorities.
While Kim acknowledged that immigration remains a core issue for Trump’s political base, she suggested that the broader electorate remains more focused on economic pressures.
The remarks quickly sparked criticism online, with critics arguing that referring to grieving mothers as “so-called” Angel Moms minimized the pain of families who lost loved ones to violent crimes. Supporters of the president contend that honoring these families highlights what they view as the real-world consequences of border policies under the previous administration.
The Angel Families Remembrance Ceremony was designed to spotlight those personal stories. During the event, Trump reaffirmed his administration’s hardline stance on border security and illegal immigration, framing it as a moral obligation to protect American citizens.
While polling consistently shows economic concerns such as inflation and affordability ranking high among voters, immigration remains one of the most polarizing and politically charged issues in national discourse.
The clash over coverage of the Angel Families event underscores the deep tensions between the White House and major media outlets — and signals that immigration will once again be front and center in the political fight ahead.
