Karoline Leavitt fact-checks CNN after host tries to spin shutdown to defend Dems
CNN’s ratings are in the toilet because they’re a propaganda machine for Democrats.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 2, 2025
Here are the actual FACTS:
Democrats shut down the federal government to try to give taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens.
The funding proposal put forward by the Democrats would result… pic.twitter.com/mQzgCMLHQA
WASHINGTON, DC: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized CNN on Thursday, October 2, accusing anchor Pamela Brown of twisting the government shutdown story in favor of Democrats. She referred to CNN cutting away from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s press conference, where he said Democrats were responsible for the shutdown.
CNN accused by Karoline Leavitt of misrepresenting shutdown debate
CNN’s 'Situation Room' cut away from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) press conference after he blamed Democrats for the government shutdowns.
While transitioning away from Johnson, Pamela Brown told viewers that Johnson was “trying to frame the shutdown as a Democratic shutdown” and had “falsely claimed that Democrats want to give healthcare, extend healthcare to illegal immigrants.”
Her remark came despite Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) confirming on Tuesday, September 30, that Democrats were seeking healthcare for undocumented immigrants as part of their demands to prevent the shutdown.
Karoline Leavitt criticizes CNN on X
Leavitt took to X (formerly Twitter), blasting CNN for spinning the narrative. “CNN’s ratings are in the toilet because they’re a propaganda machine for Democrats,” she wrote before posting a detailed fact-check.
She argued that under the Democrats’ proposal, Medicaid would be forced to pay more for undocumented immigrants’ emergency care than it does for American patients who are disabled, elderly, or children.
Leavitt added that the plan would “allow California to continue a gimmick that funds its Medicaid for illegals program” and revive a subsidy for noncitizens first established under Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act.
Abigail Jackson echoes Karoline Leavitt’s criticism
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson backed Leavitt’s claims in a statement to Breitbart News.
“Fake News CNN refuses to let the few viewers they have left hear the truth because they know it would contradict the left-wing narrative they spend all day parroting,” Jackson said.
“Their repeated patterns of lies and deception are why Americans’ confidence in the media has hit a new low.
But the Trump Administration will never shy away from sharing the truth with Americans, and here it is: the Democrats shut down the government because they want to give free healthcare to illegal aliens.”
