Karoline Leavitt fact-checks CNN after host tries to spin shutdown to defend Dems

Karoline Leavitt blasted CNN anchor Pamela Brown for cutting Mike Johnson’s remarks and said Democrats pushed healthcare for undocumented immigrants
UPDATED OCT 4, 2025
Karoline Leavitt criticized Pamela Brown for twisting the shutdown debate in Democrats’ favor (Getty Images)
Karoline Leavitt criticized Pamela Brown for twisting the shutdown debate in Democrats’ favor (Getty Images)


 

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

Pamela Brown (@PamelaBrownCNN/X)
Pamela Brown defended Democrats while cutting away from Mike Johnson’s press conference (@PamelaBrownCNN/X)

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

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 17: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calls on reporters during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Leavitt talked about U.S. airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemin, the deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador and whether the Trump administration will conform with federal judges' orders. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Karoline Leavitt called on reporters during a White House press briefing in Washington DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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.”

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