Country

Font Size

CNN Mixes Up Obama and Osama Bin Laden Names in On-Air Gaffe

News Image for CNN Mixes Up Obama and Osama Bin Laden Names in On-Air Gaffe
AI-Generated Summary

CNN faced backlash after mixing up names of Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden during a segment. This incident occurred amidst ongoing challenges for the network, including layoffs and legal issues.

CNN mixed up the names of former President Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden in an embarrassing on-air gaffe on Friday night.

During a segment on the Guantanamo Bay detention camp on "CNN News Central," a graphic appeared behind anchor Boris Sanchez that read, "OBAMA BIN LADEN ASSOCIATE: ABU ZUBAYDAH."

Abu Zubaydah - the suspected Palestinian terrorist whose real name is Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn - is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his apprehension and detention.

When President Obama took office in January 2009, he pledged to close the detention facility within a year but failed to do so. This failure enabled future presidents, like President Donald Trump, to use the detention facility to house some of the world's most dangerous criminals.

Earlier this week, Trump instructed the Pentagon to prepare the facility to hold around 30,000 'criminal illegal aliens' at the US military base.

While Sanchez did not read "Obama bin Laden" out loud, viewers quickly caught the glaring mashup of names and took to social media to call it out.

"So it's confirmed now. The Babylon Bee bought CNN and just didn't tell us," X user Charles Jorhan mocked.

This gaffe comes as another embarrassing moment for the struggling liberal news network, with CNN laying off roughly 6% of their workforce at the end of January as ratings continued to decline.

CNN painted the layoffs as a critical step toward securing the network's future, telling staffers that "irreversible shifts in the way audiences in America and around the world consume news" have impacted its business model. About 200 jobs were eliminated as a result.

The news network also lost a major lawsuit last month, being found liable for defaming U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young. A jury awarded the Navy veteran $4 million in lost earnings, $1 million in personal damages such as pain and suffering and said that punitive damages are warranted against CNN.

CNN declined to comment to Fox News Digital on the name mix-up.

Explore More

Apple Launches iOS 18.3 with AI Innovations and Privacy Considerations

Apple Launches iOS 18.3 with AI Innovations and Privacy Considerations

2025-02-08 07:37 PM ET - Forbes

Church Leaders Respond to Trump Administration's Immigration Policy Changes

Church Leaders Respond to Trump Administration's Immigration Policy Changes

2025-02-08 07:38 PM ET - ArcaMax

Thailand deepens cooperation with China to combat cyber scams and enhance economic ties

Thailand deepens cooperation with China to combat cyber scams and enhance economic ties

2025-02-08 07:36 PM ET - VOA Voice of America

Jessica Covey and Jeffrey Fletcher Announce Engagement and Wedding Plans

Jessica Covey and Jeffrey Fletcher Announce Engagement and Wedding Plans

2025-02-08 07:36 PM ET - Twin Cities

USAID Faces Scrutiny Over Funding and Operations

USAID Faces Scrutiny Over Funding and Operations

2025-02-07 09:03 PM ET - Redstate

Judge Orders Reincarceration of Jan. 6 Rioter Despite Trump Pardon

Judge Orders Reincarceration of Jan. 6 Rioter Despite Trump Pardon

2025-02-07 08:59 PM ET - Raw Story

Jamie Raskin discusses claims of a coup involving Elon Musk and Donald Trump

Jamie Raskin discusses claims of a coup involving Elon Musk and Donald Trump

2025-02-07 09:12 PM ET - Breitbart

Trump Announces Board Changes at Kennedy Center to Align with His Artistic Vision

Trump Announces Board Changes at Kennedy Center to Align with His Artistic Vision

2025-02-07 09:34 PM ET - New York Post

Man Convicted of Assaulting Pro-Life Advocates in Baltimore

Man Convicted of Assaulting Pro-Life Advocates in Baltimore

2025-02-07 09:14 PM ET - Breitbart

CRS Faces Cuts Amid Federal Funding Freeze

CRS Faces Cuts Amid Federal Funding Freeze

2025-02-07 07:01 PM ET - Breitbart

Clinton and Duffy Clash Over Aviation Safety After Recent Plane Crash

Clinton and Duffy Clash Over Aviation Safety After Recent Plane Crash

2025-02-07 08:49 PM ET - One America News Network

Trump Announces Plan to Lead Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Trump Announces Plan to Lead Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

2025-02-07 08:12 PM ET - Los Angeles Times

Trump Plans to Lead Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Trump Plans to Lead Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

2025-02-07 07:12 PM ET - Variety

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearances in Social Media Post

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearances in Social Media Post

2025-02-07 08:22 PM ET - NPR

Trump Signs Order for White Afrikaner Refugee Resettlement Amid Controversy

Trump Signs Order for White Afrikaner Refugee Resettlement Amid Controversy

2025-02-07 08:14 PM ET - Raw Story

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance Citing Memory Issues

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance Citing Memory Issues

2025-02-07 07:22 PM ET - TheBlaze

Comedian Tyler Fischer Sues Hollywood Over DEI Policies Claiming Discrimination

Comedian Tyler Fischer Sues Hollywood Over DEI Policies Claiming Discrimination

2025-02-08 05:09 AM ET - Fox News

Border Patrol Reports 90% Drop in Illegal Crossings Since Trump Took Office

Border Patrol Reports 90% Drop in Illegal Crossings Since Trump Took Office

2025-02-07 07:24 PM ET - New York Post

Federal Agents Prepare for Immigration Enforcement Action in Los Angeles

Federal Agents Prepare for Immigration Enforcement Action in Los Angeles

2025-02-07 07:32 PM ET - Los Angeles Times

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance Citing Precedent

Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance Citing Precedent

2025-02-07 07:15 PM ET - CBS News

Trump Orders Housing of Illegal Immigrant Criminals at Guantanamo Bay

Trump Orders Housing of Illegal Immigrant Criminals at Guantanamo Bay

2025-02-08 04:09 AM ET - Fox News