- CNN Communications defended a reporter against Senator Ted Cruz’s criticism.
- Cruz, R-Texas sentenced journalist Clarissa Ward for covering her head while reporting in Kabul, Afghanistan.
- CNN accused Cruz of “escaping to Cancun in difficult times”.
CNN’s public relations arm criticized Senator Ted Cruz on Monday for criticizing a female reporter who reported from Kabul, Afghanistan while she was wearing a headscarf, and accused her of encouraging the Taliban.
Members of the Islamic Taliban movement overran the Afghan capital on Monday as the US military began withdrawing from the country, ending a 20-year war.
timetable:The withdrawal of the United States and the restoration of the Taliban to Afghanistan
In an eight-second video retweeted by Cruz, Texas, senior CNN International correspondent Clarissa Ward reported that the Taliban insurgents were “chanting ‘Death to America,’ but sounding friendly at the same time.” She described this behavior as “totally strange”.
“Is there an enemy of America that CNN doesn’t cheer for? (In mandatory burkas, no less),” Cruz tweeted.
CNN defended Ward as she called out Cruise to “escape to Cancun in tough times.” Cruz and his family traveled to the Mexican resort earlier this yearAs Texas faced a severe winter storm that left millions without electricity and saw More than 200 dead.
more:Senator Ted Cruz calls Mexico trip ‘mistake’ amid Texas winter crisis and blackouts
Related:Texas officials said the death toll from the February snowstorm rose to 210
“Instead of escaping to Cancun in hard times, Clarissaward risks her life to tell the world what’s going on,” The CNN Communications Twitter account responded. “That’s called bravery. Instead of fomenting misleading shots of conspiracy theorists, you’d probably better spend your time helping Americans get in harm’s way.”
In the The full Monday segment on “New Day” on CNN, Ward travels throughout Kabul, interviewing Taliban members and Kabul residents. Ordinary Afghans tell her they are struggling to tackle the rapid occupation and are afraid of what will happen next. Others are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being targeted by the rebels.
Ward not wearing The burqa – a head-to-toe garment worn by women in the region – As Cruz said, despite her head and neck being covered.
more:Afghanistan mayor worries Taliban may ‘kill her’: Will it oppress women again?
USA TODAY has reached out to Cruz for comment.
Phil Mattingly, a senior CNN reporter at the White House also Cruz was shot on Twitter on Monday.
“Such bravery here, launching an out-of-context tweet and tweeting remarkably elusive summer vacation safety,” Mattingly tweeted along with a link to the full incoming clip, which takes nearly seven minutes.
Who are the women Severely persecuted under the TalibanWard reports that dressing is more conservative now that the fundamentalist group has regained power.
“I dress completely different from what I normally wear to walk the streets of Kabul,” she said.
You can reach Chelsey Cox on Twitter @therealco.
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