A CNN segment linking the history of the global slave trade primarily to white Europeans drew sharp criticism this week from conservative commentator Jillian Michaels, who disputed the network’s framing during a live panel discussion.
The exchange began when the panel addressed claims that President Donald Trump is attempting to “rewrite history” by directing public schools and private universities to alter their curricula or face potential federal investigations.
The directives include new guidelines on how slavery is discussed in classrooms.
Michaels challenged the segment’s implication that white Europeans were the chief drivers of the global slave trade.
“Did you know that less than two percent of white Americans owned slaves?” she asked, prompting immediate pushback from other panelists.
She argued that the network’s portrayal ignored the broader historical context.
“Do you realize that slavery is thousands of years old?” Michaels continued.
She pointed out that white colonial Americans were “the first race” to make efforts to end slavery during their lifetimes.
CNN host Abby Phillip responded, “Jillian, I’m surprised you’re trying to litigate who was the beneficiary of slavery.”
Michaels replied, “I’m not. What I’m saying is you cannot… Every single thing is because ‘oh no, white people bad,’ and that’s just not the truth.”
Michaels also referenced historical accounts noting that slavery in Africa predated European involvement by thousands of years.
Citing conservative commentator Benny Johnson, she noted that slavery existed in Africa for roughly 4,700 years before European traders arrived.
She also pointed out that ancient societies such as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians engaged in slavery, and referenced historical claims that slave trading was prominent in various non-European cultures.
“He’s not whitewashing slavery,” Michaels said, referring to President Trump.
“And you cannot tie imperialism and racism and slavery to just one race, which is pretty much what every single exhibit does. When you make every single exhibit about white imperialism when it isn’t relevant at all, that is a problem.”
President Trump’s directive, titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” was issued early in his term.
According to a White House fact sheet, the order aims to “instill a patriotic admiration for our incredible Nation and the values for which we stand.”
Critics contend that the initiative could remove or reduce coverage of slavery in American history, while supporters argue it broadens the historical conversation to include the institution’s global origins and long-standing presence in many civilizations.
In Virginia, debates over how slavery and race are taught remain a central issue.
The state has been a focal point for parents concerned about the introduction of anti-racism curricula in public schools.
Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, campaigned on increasing parental input in education policy and on limiting instructional approaches that some parents believe foster guilt or negative self-perceptions in students based on race.
The discussion on CNN highlighted the ongoing national debate over how slavery’s history is taught, the scope of historical narratives, and the role of race in shaping those narratives.
Michaels’ comments underscored a growing divide between those advocating for a more global and historical view of slavery and those emphasizing its specific legacy in American history.
