TN Congressman Calls Out CNN For Siding With 'Terrorists'

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett, a Republican representing the state’s 2nd district, clashed heatedly with CNN host John Berman over a federal judge’s decision to halt deportation flights initiated by the Trump administration. The confrontation unfolded during a morning segment on CNN, spotlighting a contentious legal battle over immigration policy.

The Trump administration had invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798—a rarely used wartime measure—to deport hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members, specifically from the Tren de Aragua group, to El Salvador. On March 15, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, an Obama appointee, issued a temporary restraining order blocking the removal of five specific individuals who had sued over the policy. Boasberg’s order demanded that any planes carrying deportees under this act return to the U.S., prompting outrage from Burchett and other conservatives.

During the CNN interview, Burchett accused the judge of “taking the side of a bunch of criminals” and lambasted CNN for what he saw as reflexive liberal bias. “I never understand why CNN takes the side of a bunch of murderers that have come into our country illegally,” he said, framing the deportees as dangerous threats and the judge’s ruling as overreach. When Berman countered that the judge hadn’t taken a side but was merely reviewing the “novel” use of the 1798 law, Burchett shot back, “Oh, come on. The difference between God and these judges is God knows he’s not one of these judges. They’re arrogant.”

🚨WATCH: Republican lawmaker spars with CNN host over judge halting deportation flights:

“I never understand why CNN takes the side of a bunch of murderers that have come into our country illegally,” @RepTimBurchett tells CNN over judge halting deportation flights. pic.twitter.com/xK840M9Jdz

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 19, 2025

The exchange escalated as Burchett turned his ire on CNN itself. “I guess what upsets me is that you all at CNN continuously take the side of the far left, and that’s why your ratings continue to plummet,” he declared, adding, “You are so out of touch.” He argued that the American public supported the deportations and saw illegal immigration as an “act of war” by foreign countries, citing a figure of 14 million border crossings over four years. Berman defended his questioning as “valid” and “respectful,” insisting he was probing constitutional issues, not picking sides, but Burchett dismissed this as “ridiculous,” accusing the network of being “wrong on this one.”