WATCH: CNN Host Says Fans Of Accused CEO Killer Have ‘A Rightful Rage’
CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan claimed supporters of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel last year, have a “rightful rage” at the U.S. healthcare system while providing a preview for an upcoming CNN production on the rise of extremism.
Sullivan spoke with a woman named Nadine outside a rally un support of Mangione back in February, which was featured in the new special. The CNN reporter noted that he had seen the same woman at several anti-Trump protests over the years.
“We’ve met before. I’ve seen you at protests in Washington, D.C. against Trump, against January 6th, all that sort of stuff,” O’Sullivan noted.
He then asked whether the pro-Mangione protesters “accept” the violence allegedly committed by Mangione. “America was founded on violence. America was founded… Make America Great found, make America great again to when they came and massacred the indigenous people, millions and millions of indigenous people?” the protester responded.
When asked whether the acceptance of Mangione places her on the same level as those she is condemning, Nadine re-routed the conversation to President Trump before explicitly endorsing violence. “I don’t hate them condemning the proud boys who he said stand by, whatever they start. Once they start condemning them then I will reassess. But until then, no, I’m not reassessing,” she said.
Back in the studio with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, O’Sullivan floated the dubious claim that “right-wing extremists” are responsible for the overwhelming majority of political violence in the United States. Bogus claims such as these are often citing stats collected by left-wing organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center, which cherry pick examples of “right-wing extremism,” and label crimes that have no political motives as right-wing extremism, while ignoring left-wing instances of violence.
“And it is important to point out off the top here that, you know, we’re most of the time, we’re speaking about right wing extremism in this country. And that is because that is by by a massive margin where the extremist attacks have come from, right from Charlottesville to January 6,” O’Sullivan said, refusing to provide any detailed statistics for the sweeping claim.
“However, the reason why we were focusing on the Mangione fans here is that because it was quite striking, as you say, to see just how many people were really celebrating this man’s murder.”
Collins then noted that Mangione has received support and well wishes outside all of his court hearings, while many supporters have sent him letters saying “thousands” support him and wish him well. CNN failed to directly tie in the extremist views with the far-left, however.
O’Sullivan then took things a step further by seemingly offering a rationalization for supporters of Lugi Mangione. “None of these people want to rush to judgment. I mean, a lot of them are frankly don’t think he’s guilty. And of course, a court will decide that,” he said of the protesters.
“But, you know, these are people who actually really do care and have been affected by the healthcare system in this country. And we all know how very broken that system is for millions of Americans. So I think what we’re seeing manifesting outside of court is people who have actually been really hurt and who have earned a desperate situation and have a rage, a sort of rightful rage,” O’Sullivan said.
“And this for them is justice. I mean, it’s a concerning thing when you see any people cheering on violence, but that’s their reason.”