"Shark Tank" star Kevin O’Leary traded barbs with liberal commentator Tiffany Cross during a heated CNN appearance on Tuesday. The debate erupted on Newsnight as the panel discussed recent unrest in Minneapolis. Cross, a former MSNBC host, sparked the clash by making unsubstantiated claims about federal immigration agents.
Cross alleged that members of the "Proud Boys" militia have been integrated into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She cited the "violent tactics" and masked appearance of agents as evidence for her theory. "There is a reason why we have not seen a resurgence of the Proud Boys... I believe a lot of them are likely made ICE officers," Cross asserted.
O’Leary immediately pushed back, asking if Cross truly believed federal officers were militia members. He told her she was "way offside" and stretching the truth with her accusations. Host Abby Phillip also intervened, noting there is "no concrete evidence" to support the idea of Proud Boys joining ICE.
The tension escalated when Cross compared the actions of ICE to the "Gestapo." She claimed she has seen agents with "White supremacist tattoos" and labeled them as such. O’Leary demanded clarification, asking if she was calling all federal officers White supremacists.
"Yes. White supremacists, federal officers," Cross responded. She stated she was relying on her "eyes, ears and logic" to make the assessment. Cross later attacked O’Leary personally, suggesting he was part of a "cult" before the host ended the segment.
The heated exchange follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by a Border Patrol agent. That incident has triggered a wave of anti-ICE protests and radical rhetoric across the country. Federal authorities have not yet responded to Cross's specific allegations regarding officer tattoos.
O’Leary maintained that such extreme rhetoric only serves to further divide the nation. He has been a frequent critic of "woke" ideology during his recent media appearances. For now, the "Shark Tank" investor remains one of the few mainstream voices challenging radical claims on major networks.