CNN anchor and White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins is facing intense scrutiny after sharing a legal defense fund for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. The controversy erupted after Collins posted a link on X to a defense fund set up by Mangione’s attorneys.
Mangione is facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and stalking, with cases pending in both New York and Pennsylvania. Authorities allege he fatally shot Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024. Despite the charges, Mangione has gained a following of supporters who have raised over $300,000 for his legal defense.
The link shared by Collins contained a “Valentine’s Day Message” from Mangione, in which he thanked his supporters and appeared to suggest he was leading a broader movement. The post quickly drew criticism, and Collins deleted it after backlash.
CNN “reporter” KaitlanCollins promoted a fundraiser for Luigi Mangione. She has since deleted the public relations post for Luigi. pic.twitter.com/7ZI72b9Yfk
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) February 15, 2025
Among those condemning Collins was Spectator contributing editor Stephen Miller, who called the post “real bottom of the barrel stuff.” He also noted that Collins deleted the post without explanation, adding, “guess it wasn’t White House correspondent related.”
CNN responded to the backlash in a statement to AL.com, defending Collins and rejecting claims that she was promoting Mangione’s message. “This is a deceptive story without any merit that was written in bad faith,” CNN stated. “This was nothing more than a social post reporting news surrounding the trial.”
Collins also addressed the issue in a follow-up post, explaining, “I posted that his attorneys created a website, which is newsworthy and other outlets have also reported on. In no way did I share a fundraising link for him.”
Despite CNN’s defense, the explanation has not satisfied critics, particularly conservative commentators who question why Collins deleted the post if it was simply a news item. Journalist and activist Mike Cernovich called for immediate action, writing, “Security risk (understatement). Credentials must be pulled immediately.”
Kaitlan Collins is in big trouble for promoting Luigi Mangione’s defense fund.
She eventually deleted the post, but only after she was lambasted for helping to support the alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO k*ller.@kaitlancollins should take President Trump’s advice and be quiet. pic.twitter.com/2geXos1i3A
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) February 16, 2025
Meanwhile, Mangione’s case has taken on a political dimension, with radical leftist groups rallying around him. Supporters have framed his actions as part of a larger struggle, and the accused killer has gained traction among college professors and activists.
Bill Burr, a comedian and vocal supporter of COVID-19 lockdown measures and corporate pandemic relief policies, has been linked to Mangione’s movement. Burr recently made a controversial statement suggesting billionaires should be “put down like rabid dogs.”
At the University of Pennsylvania, assistant professor Julia Alekseyeva reportedly described Mangione as an “icon” in a now-deleted social media post. Alekseyeva, who identifies as a socialist and goes by “The Soviette” on social media, also posted a TikTok video in which she smiled while the song “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Misérables played in the background. The post was deleted after backlash.
The case continues to unfold as Mangione awaits trial. While his attorneys maintain his innocence, law enforcement officials have framed the killing as a politically motivated act of domestic terrorism. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Collins’ social media post raises ongoing questions about journalistic responsibility and the fine line between reporting and amplification.
