Dana Bash pushes back on Trump: 'CNN does not hate our country'
CNN anchor Dana Bash rebuked President Trump after he suggested on Monday the cable news network is withholding positive information about his administration from the public out of hatred.
As Trump was meeting in the Oval Office with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, he was asked by that country's leader why the media does not promote the numbers of immigrants his administration has deported.
"Well, they get out ... but the fake news," Trump said gesturing toward reporters gathered in the room. "CNN over there, doesn't want to put them out because they don't like putting out good numbers ... because I think they hate our country. It's a shame, really."
After the network cut away from Trump's remarks, Bash pushed back on Trump's comments about her network.
"I just want to say for the record ... CNN does not hate our country," she said. "That should go without saying. I've been here for 32 years. And I see a rhetorical device in him trying to say such a thing. That said, I want to focus on the news that we heard."
Trump has long voiced disdain for CNN, accusing the network of bias against him and his supporters.
The president made a rare appearance on the network in 2023 for a town hall event as he was preparing to run for a second term.
Bash is one of CNN's longest-serving anchors and has presided over the network's debate night and election coverage, and she hosts a daily "Inside Politics" newscast.
Later in the session, Trump again criticized CNN as he was questioned at the White House press event by one of the network's anchors, Kaitlan Collins.