CNN contributor April Ryan is being criticized by conservatives for saying first lady Melania Trump is not "culturally American," Fox News reports.
Ryan, also a White House reporter for American Urban Radio Networks, was discussing Trump's unveiling of the "Be Best" campaign against bullying and addiction Monday night when she made the comments.
"This is a first lady who is not culturally American, but she is learning the ways and this is not just an American issue," Ryan told "OutFront" host Erin Burnett on CNN. "These are not just American issues, these are international issues. Cyberbullying is an international issue. Social media is international and also the opioid addiction issue, so it's not just here, but it's abroad as well."
Conservative commentator Carmine Sabia called Ryan's comments racist and reprehensible.
"She should be ashamed," he added.
Glenn Beck, also a right wing pundit, agreed with Sabia.
"April Ryan – I know when some said that Obama wasn't fully 'culturally American' reporters cried racism. Now that you, a reporter, are saying the same, can they cry racism? Or do you just hate foreigners? Wow, this is easy, I see why the left likes it," Beck wrote.
Fox News contributor Rachel Campos-Duffy, whose husband Sean Duffy serves as a House Representative, said Ryan's comments were offensive.
"The left thinks that Melania, Ivanka – any of us who are Republicans – that we are complicit," she added.
Melania, she said, has been "an amazing ambassador" to the United States.
"Shame on people for not giving her credit," she added.
The White House in a tweet Tuesday encouraged "members of the media to attempt to 'Be Best' in their own professions."
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