NBC’s Megyn Kelly defended her interview with Infowars’ Alex Jones Tuesday after an advertiser pulled commercials and a “Sandy Hook” gala cut her from speaking at the event.
“I find Alex Jones’s suggestion that Sandy Hook was ‘a hoax’ as personally revolting as every other rational person does,” the new NBC anchor told Fox News in a statement. (RELATED: Megyn Kelly Says Final Goodbye To Viewers: I’m ‘Better For Having Been Here’)
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“It left me, and many other Americans, asking the very question that prompted this interview: how does Jones, who traffics in these outrageous conspiracy theories, have the respect of the president of the United States and a growing audience of millions,” she added. “President Trump, by praising and citing him, appearing on his show, and giving him White House press credentials, has helped elevate Jones, to the alarm of many.”
“Our goal in sitting down with him was to shine a light–as journalists are supposed to do–on this influential figure, and yes– to discuss the considerable falsehoods he has promoted with near impunity,” she continued.
Kelly also said while she was “disappointed” from being dropped as a host of the annual gala, “I understand and respect the decision of the event organizers.”
In a preview of the show Sunday, the anchor asked Jones about his claim that the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, was nothing but “a hoax.”
“When you say parents faked their children’s death, people get very angry,” Kelly said.
“Well I know, but they don’t get angry about the half million dead Iraqis from the sanctions, or they don’t get angry about..,” Jones responded before Kelly stopped him and called his answer a “dodge.”