Jasmine Crockett slammed for comparing Trump to MS-13 member: 'Complete lunatic'

Fox News - Apr 20th, 2025
Open on Fox News

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, sparked controversy during an interview on MSNBC with host Katie Phang, where she compared former President Donald Trump unfavorably to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged member of the MS-13 gang. Crockett's comments, asserting that Garcia was 'a lot less criminal' than Trump, drew significant backlash on social media. Many users criticized Crockett, accusing her of having 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' and expressing intentions to challenge her congressional seat in 2026. The interview was also emotional, with both Crockett and Phang tearing up as they discussed Crockett's support for democracy on one of Phang's final shows.

The interview's backlash highlights the divisive nature of political discourse surrounding figures like Trump and the media's role in shaping public perception. Crockett's remarks, while intended to critique Trump's actions, were met with hostility from some social media users, illustrating the challenging environment for politicians who take strong stances against polarizing figures. This incident underscores ongoing tensions in U.S. politics, particularly around issues of immigration and criminality comparisons, and showcases the challenges faced by media outlets in maintaining diverse viewpoints amid program cancellations and host departures.

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RATING

6.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and engaging account of Rep. Jasmine Crockett's controversial comments and the reactions they elicited. It is well-structured and accessible, making it easy for readers to follow and understand. However, the article's accuracy and balance are somewhat limited by the lack of direct evidence and diverse perspectives, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issues.

The reliance on social media reactions and the absence of authoritative sources affect the quality of the reporting, while the limited transparency regarding the methodology and sources used further impacts the article's credibility. Despite these limitations, the article's focus on a controversial topic and its potential to provoke debate contribute to its overall impact and relevance.

To enhance the article's quality, more context and analysis of the situation, as well as a broader range of perspectives, would be beneficial. This would provide readers with a deeper understanding of the issues and encourage more meaningful discussions.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that are mostly accurate but require further verification. For example, the claim that Rep. Jasmine Crockett compared President Donald Trump to an alleged MS-13 member is supported by her statements, as reported in other sources. However, the story does not provide direct quotes or full context for Crockett's comments, which could affect the interpretation of her statements.

Additionally, the article mentions Crockett's emotional response during the interview with Katie Phang, which aligns with the reported content of the interview. However, it does not provide any direct evidence, such as video or transcript excerpts, to verify this claim independently.

The story includes social media reactions, which are accurate in capturing the sentiment but lack specificity regarding the number of users or the breadth of the backlash. Overall, while the article is largely accurate, it would benefit from more direct evidence and context to support its claims.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the perspective of Rep. Jasmine Crockett and the reactions to her comments. It includes opinions from social media users, which are largely critical, potentially skewing the perception of public sentiment. However, it does not provide any counterarguments or perspectives from supporters of Crockett or those who might agree with her comparison.

Additionally, the story does not offer insight into the broader context of Crockett's comments or the rationale behind her statements, which could provide a more balanced view. The absence of responses from Crockett's office or other political figures also limits the range of perspectives presented.

Overall, the article leans towards a critical portrayal of Crockett without adequately exploring or representing alternative viewpoints, which affects its balance.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and easy to understand, with a straightforward narrative structure that guides the reader through the key events and reactions. The language is accessible, and the story is logically organized, with distinct sections focusing on Crockett's comments, the interview, and social media reactions.

However, the clarity could be improved by providing more context for Crockett's statements and the broader political implications. The inclusion of more direct quotes or evidence from the interview would also enhance the clarity and help readers better understand the nuances of the situation.

7
Source quality

The article is published by Fox News, a well-known media outlet with a significant audience. The author, Michael Lee, has experience in political reporting, which lends some credibility to the content. However, the article relies heavily on social media reactions and does not cite additional authoritative sources or experts to support its claims.

The lack of direct quotes or evidence from the MSNBC interview or statements from Crockett's office affects the depth and reliability of the reporting. While the article does reference known entities and events, the reliance on social media and the absence of diverse sources limit the overall quality of the sourcing.

5
Transparency

The article provides limited transparency regarding its sources and the methodology behind its claims. It does not disclose how social media reactions were selected or the criteria used to assess public sentiment. Additionally, the article does not clarify whether the author attempted to contact Crockett's office for comment or provide any information about the context of the interview beyond the emotional responses.

The lack of direct quotes or evidence from the interview and the absence of any disclosure about potential conflicts of interest or biases further impact the transparency of the article. Greater transparency about the sources and methods used would enhance the credibility and reliability of the reporting.

Sources

  1. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jasmine-crockett-slammed-comparing-trump-ms-13-member-complete-lunatic
  2. https://www.mediaite.com/tv/democrat-jasmine-crockett-says-abrego-garcia-a-lot-less-criminal-than-the-person-thats-sitting-in-the-white-house/
  3. https://mxmnews.com/article/a41c6d43-39ae-4dc3-8e04-5c69c04e8198
  4. https://www.dailykos.com/story/2025/4/20/2317560/-Jasmine-Crockett-says-I-haven-t-seen-anyone-with-a-rap-sheet-like-the-President-s
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnJP-CjNiYQ