CNN has retracted segments featuring digitally altered photos of former President Donald Trump and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, sparking backlash and threats of legal action from Loomer over the network’s use of manipulated images.
CNN has issued an on-air retraction after admitting to using “digitally altered” photos of former President Donald Trump and right-wing activist Laura Loomer in several segments aired last week. The network acknowledged the mistake during a broadcast, with a host explaining that the images had been improperly sourced from social media and featured in shows hosted by Anderson Cooper on Friday and Saturday.
“Friday evening and on Saturday, CNN aired a number of segments that briefly showed an image of former President Donald Trump and Laura Loomer taken from social media,” the CNN host stated during the retraction. “On review, this image had been digitally altered by a third party and should not have been included. We regret the error.”
Loomer, who has a history of making provocative statements and is known for her staunch support of Trump, responded angrily to the apology. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, she criticized Cooper for sending a female colleague to deliver the apology instead of doing so himself.
“If you do not issue a retraction in writing on X for showing fake and photoshopped pics of me and President Trump in an effort to spew a sick, misogynistic, and defamatory attack against me, I will sue you, the same way I’m going to sue @billmaher,” Loomer wrote. “How much of a coward do you have to be to use fake pics to defame me and @realDonaldTrump and then not apologize yourself? Issue a retraction in writing and on air or else you’re getting sued.”
The incident has stirred controversy, raising questions about journalistic standards and the use of manipulated images in media. It also highlights the broader issue of misinformation and the rapid spread of altered content on social media. CNN’s acknowledgment of the error and on-air retraction mark an unusual public admission of fault, though Loomer’s demand for a written apology suggests that the fallout from this incident may not be over.
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