Dan Bongino sharply criticized a CNN social media post describing two Pennsylvania teenagers suspected of throwing a bomb at a protest in New York City, calling the framing of the report one of the worst examples of media coverage he has seen.
Bongino was reacting to coverage of an incident in which two suspects allegedly threw what police described as a viable explosive device at an anti–Jake Lang protest in New York City. According to Bongino, the New York Police Department identified the device as a T ATP explosive.
Bongino argued that the description used in a CNN tweet about the suspects was inappropriate and distracted from the seriousness of the alleged crime.
“This rates up there as possibly folks, one of the top 10 Worst tweets I’ve seen of all time. And that’s saying a lot,” Bongino said.
He said the tweet described the suspects’ day in a way that focused on the weather and ordinary activities before the alleged bombing.
“So we had the incident with these two subjects and suspects in this case up in New York throwing a bomb at that Jake Lang protest. By the way, a viable bomb, according to the NYPD themselves. It was a TATP explosive,” Bongino said.
Bongino then quoted the beginning of the tweet and questioned why it focused on details unrelated to the alleged attack.
“Here’s how CNN frames this. Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could have been a normal day enjoying the city, Gui, during abnormally warm weather. Keep this up. What the does that have to do with the bombing? Keep this up. What the does the weather have to do with the bombing?” Bongino said.
He mocked the tone of the description, suggesting that it portrayed the suspects as if they had simply been enjoying a normal day in the city.
“Like they were, it sounds like two Pennsylvania teens. They were getting ready to enjoy a picnic. It was abnormally warm weather. They were sunning their nuts in Central Park, trying to get some testosterone from the photons hitting their testicles. It was a wonderful day. They were eating a ham soup. Oh, a lot of ham soups. Oh my gosh, look at this. They were having strawberry smoothies. What the kind of opening is this?” Bongino said.
Bongino said the tweet continued by suggesting the suspects’ lives dramatically changed within an hour.
“Then it goes on. It gets even it gets even worse. How the hell could it get even worse? Because it’s CNN. It always gets worse, but in less than an hour, when they stop sunning their nuts little Libra, their lives would drastically change,” Bongino said.
He argued that the wording implied the suspects were victims of sudden circumstances rather than individuals accused of committing a serious crime.
“Gui, why would their lives change? Why do you think that is? Gui said it right. It’s just crazy. When you throw a couple bombs. How do your life,” Bongino said.
Bongino continued criticizing the tweet’s language, particularly the phrase suggesting the suspects’ lives “would drastically change.”
“This is the beginning of this is framed like their lives changed, like they were sunning their balls and someone came and kicked them in the nuts and put a bomb next to their nuts or something, their lives drastically. That’s crazy. How that happens,” Bongino said.
He noted that the tweet eventually referenced the alleged arrest of the suspects.
“Their lives would drastically change, as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs,” Bongino said.
Bongino also criticized the way the tweet described the location of the incident, saying it suggested the bombing took place outside the home of New York City Mayor Mamdani before being corrected.
“Here we finally get to it during an anti Muslim protest outside of Mayor Mamdani’s home. Phone home,” Bongino said.
According to Bongino, the protest was actually connected to Jake Lang rather than an event outside the mayor’s residence.
“Here’s what we know so far, acting as if Mamdani the liberal lunatic that they bombed his house,” Bongino said.
Bongino said he saw social media reactions that reflected confusion about what had actually occurred.
“So people are responding back. I saw some lady comment that her friend read the tweet was like, Man, that’s so crazy. Like they attacked Mamdani. Ladies like, What the are you talking about? They attacked Mamdani They attacked the Jake Lang protest had nothing to do with what are you talking about,” Bongino said.
He concluded by reiterating his view that the tweet was among the most unusual examples of reporting he has seen.
“Oh my gosh, that weirdest reason he’s like, this has got to be the weird that is top 10 craziest freaking tweets you’ve ever seen their lives would drastically change that happens when you throw bombs and shit that happens then that happens,” Bongino said.
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