CNN host Erin Burnett had to apologize to viewers after she read out an expletive-laden quote allegedly made by Donald Trump about the funeral of a murdered US soldier.
On her show OutFront, Burnett discussed a report published by The Atlantic concerning remarks made by the former president about Vanessa Guillén.
Trump is said to have fumed it doesnt cost $60,000 to bury a f***ing Mexican, following her murder in 2020 in Texas.
Burnett read out the crude remark on her show in full, before quickly catching herself, saying: Excuse my language there. I just read it. But thats what he said.
The allegations about the former presidents words, made by The Atlantic, have been branded nonsense by the Trump campaign.
On her show OutFront, Burnett discussed a report published by The Atlantic concerning remarks made by the former president about Vanessa Guillén when she made the remark
Guillen was declared missing on April 22, 2020 when her family did not hear from her after she went to work for a shift in the military base armory room
According to their report, Trump made the outburst after meeting with Guilléns family and offering to pay for the funeral.
Did they bill us for the funeral? What did it cost? Trump said, according to the report.
The aide responded by telling him it cost $60,000, which made Trump angry, multiple people in attendance in the meeting told the magazine.
It doesnt cost 60,000 bucks to bury a f***ing Mexican, the president is accused of saying at the time.
Dont pay it! Trump reportedly ordered chief of staff Mark Meadows. Meadows also denied the claims about his former boss.
They claimed that Trump never sent the family any money to cover funeral costs, despite having told Guilléns mother he would when the family visited him in 2020.
There has not been a funeral yet? How come? he asked them at the time. When they said they were told to wait, he replied quickly: No. Thats no good.
Turning to an aide, he then said: Weve got to take care of that.
When would you like to have the funeral? As soon as possible? Well make sure that happens. Where will you have the funeral, do you know?
If I can help you out with the funeral Ill help you. Financially, Ill help you. If you need something well take care of it. We will make sure she is very respected, he said.
The Atlantic has claimed that Trump never sent the family any money to cover funeral costs, despite having publicly told Guilléns mother he would when the family visited him in 2020
Another person familiar with Trumps behavior said he complained about it again later in the day.
Can you believe it? F***ing people, trying to rip me off, Trump is alleged to have said.
Trump spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said this week: Donald Trump did not say f**king Mexican. This is an outrageous lie from The Atlantic two weeks before the election.
A spokesman for the acting secretary of defense at the time, Kash Patel, also denied Trump having said that.
Guilléns sister Maya ignored the claims also, saying: I am beyond grateful for all the support President Donald Trump showed our family during a trying time.
Guillén was declared missing on April 22, 2020 when her family did not hear from her after she went to work for a shift in the military base armory room.
Her disappearance sparked a large-scale search, but her dismembered and buried remains were not found until June 30 - 23 miles from where she was last seen.
According to the report, Trump made the outburst after meeting with Guilléns family and offering to pay for the funeral
Guillén was declared missing on April 22, 2020 when her family did not hear from her after she went to work for a shift in the military base armory room
Cecily Aguilar, 24, is the only suspect arrested in the death of Vanessa Guillén, who was killed at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas
Cecily Aguilar was the only suspect arrested in the death of Guillén, who was killed at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas.
Authorities say Guillén was killed by Aguilars alleged boyfriend – army specialist Aaron Robinson – after she saw a photo of the then 20-year-old on his phone.
Aguilar, who was married to another soldier, helped Robinson dispose of Guilléns dismembered body after he bludgeoned her to death, burying her remains in a rural area near the base.
Robinson committed suicide on the day Guilléns body was found, after escaping officers who had detained him for her murder.
Authorities say Guillen was killed by Aguilars alleged boyfriend – army specialist Aaron Robinson – after she saw a photo of the then 20-year-old on his phone. Robinson committed suicide on the day Guillens body was found
Aguilar in 2022 pleaded guilty to a single count of accessory to murder and three counts of making false statements.
She was sentenced to 30 years in prison for her part in the crime, with Guillens killing sparking a movement of reporting sexual abuse in the military.
After her death, her familys claims of sexual harassment at the Texas base ignited a movement on social media of former and active service members who shared their experiences at military bases throughout the country using the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen.
Then-U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said during a visit to the Texas base that it had one of the highest rates of murder, sexual assault and harassment in the Army.
He added that the patterns of violence were a direct result of leadership failures.
State and federal lawmakers passed legislation honoring Guillén that removed some authority from commanders and gave survivors more options to report abuse and harassment.
Army officials disciplined 21 commissioned and non-commissioned officers in connection with Guilléns death.