CNN anchor Anna Cabrera claimed on air Sunday that President Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. recently said that white men have a lot to fear. However, that is not quite what the two had said.
"President Trump and his son Don Jr. said this week white men have a lot to fear right now," Cabrera said in a segment focusing on multiple cases of racism in which black people are being falsely accused by white people.
But the Trump comment that Cabrera was referencing had nothing to do with race. Earlier this month, Trump told reporters that he believes it is a "very scary time for young men in America where you can be guilty of something you might not be guilty of" in light of sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh that most Democrats believe despite the lack of evidence.
It was evident this was the quote Cabrera had in mind, because immediately after she played a clip of "Saturday Night Live" castmember Michael Che making light of the remark. "I don't have a joke for that," he said this week's "Weekend Update." "I just thought it was hilarious. Old rich white dude telling us it's scary time in America. That is pure comedy. I will be stealing that line."
CNN's Ana Cabrera lies about recent comments made by President Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr., claiming they said: "White men have a lot to fear right now..."
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 15, 2018
Trump said: "It's a very scary time for young men in America..."
Trump Jr. said he is most concerned for his sons... pic.twitter.com/ZOBOXafYJo
Cabrera then went on to ask her guest, Temple professor Marc Lamont Hill, why he thinks that is Trump's strategy, to which he replied, "That's always trump's strategy, to close ranks around a certain kind of racial tribalism."
The Trump Jr. comment that grabbed headlines, which also pertained to the Kavanaugh controversy, had to do with his sons.
"I mean, right now, I'd say my sons," Trump Jr. said in an interview with DailyMailTV. "I've got boys, and I've got girls. And when I see what's going on right now, it's scary."
Cabrera's comment got some swift rebukes by figures on the right, including former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka, who tweeted, ".@AnaCabrer: Lying. Racist." Gorka used the wrong Twitter tag for Cabrera, however.
[Also read: Michael Avenatti predicts Trump Jr. will be indicted by end of 2018]
.@AnaCabrer: Lying. Racist. https://t.co/D1HO9pFNtY
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) October 14, 2018
The next day, Cabrera apologized for incorrectly quoting a statement attributed to the president.
Yesterday my show incorrectly quoted a statement attributed to the president and we regret the error. My goal is to always be as accurate as possible and I am sincerely sorry for the mistake.
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) October 15, 2018