On Tuesday’s CNN This Morning, Audie Cornish didn’t merely report the departure of three women in Trump’s cabinet—she raised the specter of sexism right out of the gate. Teasing the segment, Cornish asked: “Is there a different standard for women in the White House?” [See also, screencap.] From there, Cornish kept steering the discussion back to gender, suggesting that the departure of three women is "a trend." Discussing the resignation of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer amid an internal misconduct investigation, Cornish pressed the point: why is Chavez-DeRemer out, while FBI Director Kash Patel—facing what she described as “very similar allegations”—is “digging in”? Panelist Ashley Davis pushed back, noting differences in the accusations and Chavez-DeRemer’s ineffective performance. Cornish made the same move when the panel turned to Pam Bondi. Davis cited Bondi’s entanglement in controversy tied to the Epstein files as a key factor. Cornish again pushed the Patel comparison—"so was Patel and a lot of other people."—driving the same point: similar accusations, but only one gets the boot. But Cornish undercut her own argument. If “a lot of other people” have faced allegations without being shown the door, then gender isn’t the obvious dividing line. The cases aren’t identical—in scope, in substantiation, or in how the individuals have responded. Treating them as if they are ignores those differences. The same problem applies to the other departures Cornish grouped together. Kristi Noem left amid dissatisfaction that extended beyond partisan lines. Different situations, different pressures, different outcomes. And let’s not forget Trump’s first term, when high-profile firings and forced exits fell overwhelmingly on male officials—including prominent figures like Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. So was Trump a misandrist then, only to become a misogynist now? WATCH: CNN Floats Sexism in Trump Firings—Ignores Male Bloodbath of First Term pic.twitter.com/EZbSW56jFr — Mark Finkelstein (@markfinkelstein) April 21, 2026 As for Bondi’s departure, there’s an added wrinkle. The very first Trump nominee forced out in his second term was a man: Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick for Attorney General, who was gone within days. Turnover driven by controversy is nothing new—and not confined to one gender. Cornish suggested sexism was behind the firings of the three women—but never backed it up. Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 4/21/26 6:00 am EDT AUDIE CORNISH: Another exit from Trump's cabinet. The Labor Secretary is out. Is there a different standard for women in the White House?  . . .  I want to turn to this here in the U.S. The Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is out. She says she's stepping down to take a job in the private sector. Keith Sonderling will serve as acting Labor secretary.  Now, Chavez-DeRemer is leaving at the same time that an internal investigation is underway into possible misconduct. A Department of Labor source tells CNN, that a complaint is under investigation that alleges that the Labor secretary was having a sexual relationship with a member of her security team. This complaint also claimed that she would send staff to pick up liquor and use business trips for personal travel.  She's the third cabinet secretary to leave in just under two months. And the group chat is back. We want to show who's in and who's out right now with Chavez-DeRemer gone. She follows Pam Bondi, who followed Kristi Noem. And NOTUS raised this question in their headline, "Another woman in Trump's Cabinet is out." Does three make a trend?  CHUCK ROCHA: Seems like it.  . . .  CORNISH: Ashley, you were shaking your head when I brought up the woman thing. Look at your face. You're even making it now. But here's the reason. Kash Patel is in the middle of suing The Atlantic over very similar allegations around alcohol, around misuse of travel, right?  And it feels like, why is one on the exit and one digging in?  ASHLEY DAVIS: Well, I think she has a lot of different accusations. I mean, there's a lot more than what you just said. And I also think that she hasn't really been that effective. She's been like the one cabinet secretary no one has seen at all.  ISSAC DOVERE: And we know much more about what all of these scandals -- DAVIS: -- than what she has done. Absolutely.  And then on the Kristi Noem front, everyone wanted Kristi Noem -- Republicans, Democrats -- wanted Kristi Noem gone. She's gone.  The only one that I always scratch my head about, because they're still very close, is Pam Bondi. Whether you like her politics or not, she's very smart. Obviously, she was caught up in the Epstein issues and was that was that one of the major issues -- CORNISH: So was Patel and a lot of other people.  DAVIS: I get it, and who knows what happens with Kash. And you know, I'm a woman's person, but also I think these are very three very distinct issues, not because they're women. I mean, I actually think the president's done a pretty good job of putting women in this cabinet. CORNISH: Yeah! Okay.