CNN Panelist Issues Retraction and Apology After Going Too Far in On-Air Trump Attack

CNN’s much-hyped “all-star” panels once again found themselves mired in controversy this week after a left-wing activist leveled a reckless and defamatory accusation against President Donald J. Trump — forcing an on-air intervention to prevent the moment from spiraling even further out of control.

During Monday night’s broadcast of Newsnight with Abby Phillip, CNN featured 25-year-old progressive activist Cameron Kasky alongside conservative commentator Scott Jennings. Footage from the segment quickly spread on X after Kasky casually suggested that Trump had been connected to an international sex-trafficking operation.

The exchange occurred as the panel discussed Trump’s interest in Greenland and his prospects for a Nobel Peace Prize. Seemingly unable to resist an unrelated jab, Kasky invoked the late Jeffrey Epstein and insinuated criminal behavior on the part of the president — a claim with no factual basis.

“I would love it if he was more transparent about the human sex trafficking network that he was a part of, but you can’t win ’em all,” Kasky said.

CNN host John Berman attempted to pivot back to the original topic, directing a follow-up question to Jennings. Instead, Jennings halted the conversation and demanded accountability for the explosive allegation.

“You’re gonna let that sit?” Jennings asked Berman. “Are we going to claim here on CNN that the president is part of a global sex trafficking ring or …?”

Berman assured Jennings that the comment would be addressed and pressed Kasky to clarify exactly what he meant.

“That Donald Trump was … probably … very involved with it,” Kasky replied, noticeably less confident the second time around.

At that point, Berman — likely with CNN’s legal department firmly in mind — stepped in with a critical correction.

“Donald Trump has never been charged with any crimes in relation to Jeffrey Epstein,” Berman said.

Rather than backing down, Kasky attempted to double down, responding, “Yeah, but let’s be adults here …” — a remark Berman wisely ignored as the segment moved on.

Behind the scenes, however, the gravity of the situation appears to have set in. Later that evening, Kasky issued a post on X walking back his comments entirely, bizarrely claiming the accusation had been made “by accident.”

“I would like to retract my comments from CNN last night and truly apologize.

“Donald Trump was obviously not involved with a giant international child sex trafficking ring where women and children were systematically raped by elites.

“I said that by accident and didn’t mean it,” he wrote.

The abrupt reversal underscores just how serious — and legally perilous — such unfounded claims can be. Accusing a sitting president of involvement in an international sex-trafficking ring is not reckless rhetoric; it is an invitation to a devastating defamation lawsuit.

Kasky, an inexperienced activist-turned-pundit, may have assumed he could make such claims without consequence on a network long known for its hostility toward Trump. But even CNN appears to recognize there are limits.

In that sense, Jennings may have done both Kasky and CNN a favor by refusing to let the accusation slide. His pushback forced an immediate fact-check and likely prevented the network from facing serious legal exposure.

While Kasky showed no restraint or fairness toward Trump on air, one can only hope the episode serves as a hard lesson in the responsibilities that come with a national media platform — and the dangers of letting ideological animus override facts.