CNN abruptly pulls broadcast as Donald Trump breaking news announced

quickly spiralled out of control amid an escalating argument between guests Shermichael Singleton and Ana Navarro-Cárdenas. Host Abby Phillip was forced to cut the broadcast and go to an ad break as the pair furiously clashed on-air, when repeated attempts to calm the situation failed. The panel were discussing the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador with US president refusing to intervene.

Allegations have been raised that Garcia was part of a gang when he was living in the US, but no evidence towards this was presented at his court hearing. While a breaking news strap read: "BREAKING NEWS: Trump says he could return deported man, contradicting DOJ," things immediately turned tense during the debate as Shermichael insisted he wasn't being allowed to make his point, arguing: "On Mr Garcia, we keep saying there's no evidence that this guy belonged to a gang- That's not true."

Abby cut him off to say: "No that is true! No, no, no, hold on-" but he held fast, fuming: "Why do we have to play this game of interrupting people when they're talking?! What's the point of me being on the show if I can never finish my frickin' point? This is getting really annoying Abby. Everyone else has made their statements, I have yet to say anything."

Abby tried: "Hold on a second, okay?" but he fumed: "I mean, Jesus!" Panellist Ana asked: "Why are you so angry?" and he responded: "Because I want to say something, I have a point of view here as well."

Things continued to escalate, with Shermichael arguing that the US can't afford to house thousands of illegal immigrants. He said: "We don't have unlimited resources here to take care of other people-"

Which is when Ana chimed in to say: "I think there's a hell of a lot of Americans, other than Black people who were brought here as slaves, who came to this country illegally." Shermichael fumed: "They are not the same as Black people who were brought here against our will! They decide to walk their way across the border, there is a big difference!"

Ana argued: "That is exactly what I just said! You're acting indignant, that's exactly what I just said!" Abby tried in vain to calm things down, telling the pair: "Ana and Shermichael - Shermichael I think you actually misheard what she said. She- She- Shermichael listen to me for just a second- Ana, Ana please stop!"

Shermichael wasn't having it as he fumed: "Last time I checked, I'm Black and you're not!" and Ana replied: "That's right, I'm Latino and my people are being racially profiled-", but he cut in: "You think you have to remind me the history of my people? You really want to go there?"

Deciding it was time to pull the broadcast off air, Abby interrupted to directly tell the camera: "Okay we're going to take a break, Raul Reyes thank you very much for joining us, everybody else hang tight, we'll be back."

Viewers couldn't believe what they were seeing, with one tweeting: "It just got nuclear on CNN. They cut to commercial because @MrShermichael and @ananavarro decided to have it out. You have to watch it all. So worth it."

Another echoed: "Brutal, but very entertaining! Beautiful to watch." And a third CNN fan said: "Had to watch the whole thing... I see what CNN did... they tricked me into watching their show... well played."