Ana Navarro’s shouting match got so ugly, CNN had to cut to commercial

A shouting battle erupted on CNN over President Donald Trump’s deportation policies, leading to host Abby Phillip cutting away to a commercial break.

The war of words erupted as Ana Navarro and Shermichael Singleton sparred over illegal immigration and race, leaving conservative Scott Jennings and the rest of the “CNN NewsNight” panel on the sidelines watching the exchange get more heated.

After Navarro aimed a cheap shot at Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his ethnic background, she decided to go all in on the race issue as the panel discussed the deportation of criminals in the U.S. illegally.

NEW: CNN’s Abby Phillip has to cut to commercial after Shermichael Singleton and Ana Navarro get into a shouting match over Trump’s deportation policies.

Navarro tried to virtue signal by saying how she’s “advocated for black people my entire life.”

Shermichael: “Great.… pic.twitter.com/OqkkXdSHWn

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 1, 2025

“There’s a hell of a lot of people, other than the black people who were brought here as slaves, who came to this country illegally. There are a lot of different- ” Navarro said as Singleton tried to make a point with Phillip repeatedly interrupting.

“They are not the same as black people who were brought here against our will,” Singleton interjected.

“That’s exactly what I just said. I said there is a lot of people…,” Navarro shot back.

“They decided to walk their butt across the border. There’s a big difference,” Singleton continued as Navarro clarified, “OTHER than black people.”

“There is a big difference. There is a big difference, Ana,” he told the co-host of “The View.”

“That’s exactly what I just said. That’s exactly what I just said, Shermichael,” she replied as Phillip tried to regain control. “We’re gonna act indignant. That’s exactly what I just said.”

“It’s not about acting indignant,” Singleton fired back as Navarro continued to argue. “You are – you are acting as though you have the moral high ground here.”

Wasn’t expecting a race war on CNN tonight pic.twitter.com/JUBCC9Af9v

— Based Electrician⚡️ (@RyanHugeBrain) May 1, 2025

“There are a lot of people, from many countries, that came here illegally,” Navarro insisted.

“Shermichael, I think you actually misheard what she- think you misheard what she said,” Phillip said, attempting to douse the flames.

“No, he purposely misheard it,” Navarro claimed.

“I purposely misheard. So now you’re in my brain?” Singleton said.

what was the point of Navarro bringing race into it?

genuinely don’t understand what point she was trying to make

— Tom Jeans (@thomasjeans) May 1, 2025

At this point, Navarro jumped all in with her virtue signaling as she declared she has “advocated for black people my entire life.”

“Because you’ve advocated for black people. Great. Congratulations. Last time I checked, I’m black. You’re not,” Singleton shot back.

“That’s right. I’m Latino, and my people are being racially profiled. And unfairly treated,” she claimed as Phillip desperately tried to cut in.

“And do I have to remind you of the history of my people? If you want to go there?” Singleton demanded.

Phillip finally got in a word and announced a commercial break to end the verbal match.

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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