Fox News’ John Roberts became angry after fighting with White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany over President Donald Trump condemning white supremacy.
Roberts asked McEnany during Thursday’s press briefing “for a definitive and declarative statement without ambiguity or deflection” on whether Trump denounces white supremacy. McEnany responded by noting multiple interviews where Trump has denounced white supremacy.
Roberts asked again for “a declarative statement” and shaking his head as McEnany responded.
“You read me past quotes, can you do it currently,” Roberts said after repeatedly asking about white supremacy.
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“His [Trump’s] record on this is unmistakable, and it’s shameful that the media refuses to cover it,” McEnany replied at the end of the argument.
Following the press briefing, Roberts addressed the criticism he received on social media, calling out people “on Twitter who are hammering” him “for asking the question.” (RELATED: Fox News’ John Roberts Calls Out CNN For Fake News)
“I don’t care,” Roberts said. “Because it’s a question that needs to be asked, and clearly the president’s Republican colleagues a mile away from here are looking for an answer for it too. So stop deflecting. Stop blaming the media. I’m tired of it.”
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Fox News’ John Roberts just had a meltdown after being criticized for repeatedly asking @PressSec to denounce white supremacy:
“For all of you on Twitter who are hammering me for asking the question, I don’t care… Stop deflecting. Stop blaming the media. I’m tired of it.” pic.twitter.com/kqxBxhh5be
— Kelb Hull (@CalebJHull) October 1, 2020
The commentator responding to Roberts appeared unsure of what to do in the situation, eventually saying “alright.”
Shortly after Roberts’ comments, McEnany tagged him in a tweet and said she “would refer you to your wife’s reporting from 21 hours ago.” She included a tweet from ABC correspondent Kyra Phillips, whom Roberts is married too. Phillips reported Wednesday that Trump had just told her that “he DENOUNCES white supremacists.”
.@johnrobertsFox I would refer you to your wife’s reporting from 21 hours ago… accurate reporting I cited in the White House Press Briefing. https://t.co/dV3Hzp1UaI
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) October 1, 2020
While the president has condemned white supremacy, he has also repeatedly skirted around directly answering questions relating to it. In 2016, for example, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Trump about rejecting the support of white supremacist groups – specifically David Duke, a former KKK leader.
“Just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke, OK?,” Trump replied according to CNN. “I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So I don’t know. I don’t know … did he endorse me, or what’s going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists.”
The president later said that he had a “bad earpiece” following backlash regarding his answer.