CNN on Friday night found itself at the center of online ridicule after an embarrassing on-air blunder confused former President Barack Obama with terrorist Osama bin Laden.
The mistake occurred during “CNN News Central” while covering a story on former President Donald Trump’s plan to send illegal migrants to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
A graphic displayed behind anchor Boris Sanchez read “OBAMA BIN LADEN” while he discussed the treatment of Al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, who remains detained at Guantanamo.
Sanchez himself never voiced the error, but the glaring mistake on the screen was impossible to miss. The on-screen text read, “OBAMA BIN LADEN ASSOCIATE: ABU ZUBAYDAH.”
The mix-up quickly sparked reactions across social media.
“CNN is gone. Might as well turn off the lights,” mocked X user Clara Winslow.
Another user named Daniel questioned: “Freudian slip much CNN?”
Several viewers speculated that the error may have been intentional.
“That was not a misprint. Shame on whoever did that,” wrote a liberal X account.
Others were more lighthearted, calling it a “Freudian slip.”
CNN’s latest mishap comes amid ongoing struggles at the network, which has faced declining ratings and layoffs.
Recently, the network laid off 200 staff members as part of widespread cuts. Prominent figures like Jim Acosta have also exited in recent months.
