CNN anchor Dana Bash could not hold back.😳

What began as a high-stakes diplomatic exchange quickly escalated into a televised clash between President Donald Trump and a major news network.

CNN anchor Dana Bash made headlines on Monday after she interrupted live coverage from the Oval Office to respond directly to a claim by President Donald Trump.

CNN anchor Dana Bash addressing viewers during a live coverage posted on April 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/@nypost

The moment came as Trump accused CNN of hating the United States, speaking during a televised appearance carried by the network. Bash, co-anchoring the segment, paused the coverage to address the remark on air.

“I just want to say for the record, since we heard President Trump say in the Oval Office that CNN hates our country — CNN does not hate our country,” she told viewers. “That should go without saying.”

CNN anchor Dana Bash addressing viewers during a live coverage posted on April 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/@nypost

Bash, a veteran journalist who has spent over three decades at CNN, added context to her decision. “I’ve been here for 32 years,” she said, “and I see a rhetorical device in him trying to say such a thing.”

The interruption from Dana Bash followed a tense exchange in the Oval Office, where former President Trump sharply criticized CNN and one of its lead correspondents, Kaitlan Collins.

The tension rose during a recent meeting between Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, sparked by questions raised by Collins.

The President seemed to have been agitated following an inquiry over the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man still being held in El Salvador despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision ordering his return following what was deemed a wrongful deportation.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on April 14, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@FoxNews

When Collins raised the issue, Trump responded dismissively, “Let’s hear the question from this very low-rated anchor at CB — at CNN. Low-rated!” he said, brushing off the inquiry. However, the journalist continued, asking whether Trump intended to request Bukele’s cooperation in facilitating Garcia’s return, given Trump’s administration’s acknowledgment of the deportation error.

Trump did not answer directly. Instead, he deferred to Attorney General Pam Bondi and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Both officials offered remarks, but the president returned only to criticize CNN, claiming the network was “totally slanting” its coverage and suggesting, “That’s why nobody’s watching them.”

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President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside El Salvador President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office on April 14, 2024 | Source: YouTube/@FoxNews

Collins repeated the question, this time addressing Bukele directly. The Salvadoran president responded that he would not “smuggle a terrorist into the United States.” Trump then added, “They’d love to have a criminal, you know, released into our country. They would love it.”

The exchange drew a sharp response from Bash moments later, as she stepped in live to challenge President Trump, who had repeatedly criticized the network’s reporting.

On April 13, a day before hosting President Bukele at the Oval Office, Trump made a striking entrance at a sports event in Florida with his two grandchildren, warmly greeting the crowd.

However, he pointedly ignored one individual, making the snub unmistakable. The moment he walked into the arena, the crowd burst into chants of “USA,” echoing throughout the venue.

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A fan comments on Donald Trump’s actions | Source: X/@Fludded

The chants echoed long after Trump made his way through the energized crowd at UFC 314. As he moved toward the front row, the excitement didn’t fade — it only grew.

A fan comments on Donald Trump’s actions | Source: X/@LadyForProgress

He walked down the aisle, shaking hands with some attendees and waving to others. Upon reaching the front row, he clasped hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and offered him a brief hug.

Standing next to Kennedy was his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, who extended her hand in greeting. But to her visible surprise, Donald Trump looked past her and turned his attention to someone else nearby, leaving her gesture unacknowledged.

The moment quickly sparked attention beyond the arena, gaining traction across social media platforms. One commenter wrote, “Totally ignoring RFK’s wife,” while another asked, “How do you just let someone disrespect your wife like that?”

As reactions continued to roll in, many viewers voiced confusion and disappointment over the interaction. “Why he dis Cheryl like that?” one person asked. Another questioned, “Why did he ignore the lady with JFK Jr.? Didn’t say hello.”

Others zeroed in on her expression. “How’s he gonna leave Bobby Kennedy’s lady hanging?” one remarked. Another noted, “She looked like she was gonna cry,” while someone else simply called the moment “awkward.”

Despite the viral exchange, past reports suggest that Hines has gradually grown more comfortable within those political circles. In November 2024, she was reportedly cheerful and at ease at Mar-a-Lago on election night.

A source also spotted her at the America First Policy Institute gala, mingling with guests at the exclusive event. “Cheryl was talking to everyone, including Donald Trump,” the insider shared, adding that she seemed to be “playing nice with MAGA world.”

This marks a sharp contrast to her earlier stance. Hines had previously struggled with her husband’s support for Trump. Kennedy acknowledged the tension, describing it as “the opposite of what she would want to do.”

He explained that her support stemmed purely from love, emphasizing that she had not encouraged his decision—and that her discomfort had been the prevailing emotion throughout.