Republicans lauded a viral video from Rep. Ro Khanna’s (D-CA) Monday Jubilee appearance, where a participant challenged the congressman over child sex trafficking crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
The Jubilee episode, which is a debate-style show bringing together people with different viewpoints, was focused on Jeffrey Epstein, as Khanna was the co-sponsor of the discharge petition calling for the release of the files related to the convicted sex offender.
In the viral clip, one of the attendees criticized Khanna for calling for accountability from the Epstein files while ignoring child sex trafficking crimes committed by illegal immigrants who entered the country under “open border” policies.
“My frustration is, as an everyday American citizen, I feel I am more likely to be harmed by Democratic policies, such as open borders,” the attendee said. “When we’re looking into child trafficking, we have to acknowledge that illegal migration is the biggest funnel for child trafficking.”
“So when we’re worried about Epstein with a couple of people, and you guys turn a blind eye to tens of thousands of children being harmed by your policies, that’s a problem,” she added.
The Jubilee episode Khanna appeared on, titled “Surrounded,” features someone from one political party facing off in debates against 20 individuals from the opposing political party.
Numerous Republicans, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), reposted the video that was clipped by various conservative-led X accounts.
“This woman is spot on,” Leavitt said in her X repost of the video.
This woman is spot on!
https://t.co/Vfs1LJmop3
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 13, 2026
DeSantis reposted the video clipped on the America X account, a PAC founded by Elon Musk, writing “ouch” about the Khanna exchange.
At times throughout the debate, Jubilee changes the video to a split screen that includes fact checks about statements made by participants.
During the exchange over immigration, Jubilee listed a statistic from a six-year study out of Arizona State University from 2010-2015 that 1.2% of people arrested on child sex trafficking charges were noncitizens.
The fact check also highlighted that “unauthorized immigrants” make up a “high proportion” of victims of child sex trafficking.
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The segment, which was supposed to be about Epstein, pivoted to a conversation about Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The woman used crimes committed by illegal immigrants to call out the congressman’s “hypocrisy.”
The video that was clipped online cuts out Khanna’s response, where the congressman rebuffs the woman’s comments. Khanna stated he is not for open borders, while the woman continues to press him, saying his “anger is skewed” about child sex trafficking.
“… Rich and powerful people who are rigging the system feel like they are totally above the law,” Khanna said. “An undocumented person is much more vulnerable, they don’t have access to politicians.”
Numerous attendees are seen shaking their heads during the exchange, with one of the attendees saying, “I thought we were talking about Epstein.”
The debate about immigration ended when the woman was “voted out” through the red flag system, in which participants can raise their red flag to remove the debater if a majority of the participants agree that the debater has stopped being productive or is not accurately arguing their claim.
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Khanna’s appearance on Jubilee comes after he didn’t rule out a 2028 presidential campaign at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network convention last week, adding his name to the growing list of Democrats who have said they’re considering White House bids.
“Maybe I have something to offer and contribute with humility to our nation at this moment,” he said when pressed on whether he would consider running in 2028.
Khanna joins other Democratic politicians who have appeared on Jubilee, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, another suspected 2028 presidential candidate.
The Washington Examiner contacted Khanna’s office for comment.