Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna on Thursday accused CNN of selectively editing a clip of her remarks on the House floor after Democrats rejected a request for a prayer for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot on Wednesday and later died.
Luna posted on X that the network aired an "edited clip" that omitted both Rep. Lauren Boebert's prayer request and the Democrats' vocal response that preceded Luna's comments. "When asked simply to pray for a grieving family, they booed. That behavior is disgusting. This edited clip is yet another example of how far CNN will go, and how low they’ll sink, for ratings," Luna wrote.
CNN host Kaitlan Collins responded on X about 12 hours later, saying the network had aired a clip of what happened on the House floor and questioned Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and a Democratic congressman about the incident later in the program. "Actually, we just aired a clip of what happened on the House floor and then asked the Republican Speaker Mike Johnson about what happened. We also asked the Democratic congressman we had on later in the show about it," Collins wrote.
Video and accounts of the House-floor exchange show that after Boebert asked lawmakers to "say a prayer for the family" while Kirk's condition was still being reported, some Democrats loudly opposed the request, shouting "No!" in unison. About a dozen Democrats protested the prayers for Kirk, and one lawmaker was heard shouting, "Pass some gun laws!" The Democrats' rejection of the prayer enraged several Republicans on the floor, and Luna was among those who responded angrily.
Luna and other Republicans also criticized national media coverage of the shooting. The Wall Street Journal reported that bullets used in the attack were engraved with messages referencing transgender and antifascist ideology, citing an ATF notice. Critics of CNN said the network characterized the engravings more vaguely as "phrases related to cultural issues," a framing that prompted additional accusations from conservatives that the outlet was downplaying the shooter's apparent motive. CNN did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment about that characterization.
Earlier in the day, Luna posted that she blamed Democratic rhetoric for the violence, writing on X, "I am done with the rhetoric this rotten House and corrupt media has caused. Every d*** one of you who called us fascists did this." Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, speaking to reporters outside the Capitol after the floor session, similarly said, "Democrats own what happened today."
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at a rally at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. He was struck by a single bullet, collapsed at the scene and was transported to a hospital, where he later died, according to a statement from Utah authorities and a post on Truth Social by former President Donald Trump announcing Kirk's death. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and local police, conducted a manhunt for the suspect in the hours after the shooting.
Members of Congress across the political spectrum were outspoken in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Republicans sharply criticized Democrats for their response to the prayer request on the House floor, while Democrats and others emphasized the need for a measured response while investigations were ongoing and cautioned against assigning blame before evidence about motive and the attacker was publicly substantiated.
The debate over how media outlets portray moments on the House floor comes as tensions remain high in Washington over political rhetoric and public safety. House leaders have previously urged decorum on the floor following high-profile incidents, and the latest exchanges highlight continuing partisan divisions over how to discuss violence and public discourse.
CNN said it showed floor footage and sought comment from lawmakers on both sides; Luna and other Republican critics said the clip omitted key context and misrepresented the sequence of events. The House confrontation and the ensuing media dispute unfolded as investigators continued their work into the shooting in Utah and as lawmakers and political figures reacted publicly to Kirk's death.