CNN anchor Elex Michaelson apologized Thursday for remarks made on his show earlier in the week, in which he questioned how "Jewish" two politicians would "read" in a hypothetical presidential matchup.
Michaelson, 39, addressed the comment at the top of his broadcast, stating, "Earlier this week, I made a comment in a different panel discussion about Jewish identity politics. The remark that I made was offensive, and I apologize for that." He then transitioned to other news.
A similar apology was posted to X, formerly Twitter, by Michaelson a few hours prior. "I apologize. I made a comment that was offensive. Going forward, I’ll do better," the post read. The apology followed footage of the exchange shared by The Forward’s Jacob Kornbluh, which gained significant traction online.
In the clip, Michaelson said, "As a Jew, some people read a little more Jewish than other people." He then compared Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, both of whom are Jewish, while discussing potential Democratic presidential primary candidates for 2028.
"And Jon Ossoff may not read as Jewish as Josh Shapiro does, for whatever that's worth," Michaelson stated during the panel discussion, which also included LA Republican Roxanne Beckford Hoge and YouTuber Eric Messersmith.
Following Kornbluh's post, the exchange drew criticism. Some observers noted that the remark touched upon the issue of rising anti-Jewish sentiment in relation to the Israel conflict, a topic that has become a point of discussion within the Democratic Party.
During the Tuesday discussion, Messersmith commented on Ossoff's position, noting that while "Ossoff is Jewish," he is also "critical of the Israeli government" and "might be the Democrat that can thread the needle." Beckford Hoge also referenced an incident where California State Senator Scott Wiener was reportedly targeted by protestors for his support of Israel.
Michaelson joined CNN late last year from Fox 11 in Los Angeles. The offices of Senator Ossoff and Governor Shapiro have been approached for comment by the Daily Mail.
