Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly slammed ABC News’ Rachel Scott and former President Trump for their handling of a panel interview at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on Wednesday.
Scott’s tense interview with Trump sparked controversy after the former president questioned her “disgraceful” questions and questioned the identity of Vice President Harris. “Cuomo” by NewsNation He said Scott and Trump performed poorly, and noted that Scott’s opening comments, in which he cited the former president’s past controversial statements and actions, were “trick questions.”
“So when you ask the question of why she did that for Barack Obama, why she continued this conspiracy, that’s a legitimate question. But she wanted to set the tone, so she aimed everything in the world at him, and then the insulting part was, well, ‘A lot of people think you shouldn’t be here.’ I mean, that’s no way to treat somebody, especially when a former president comes to your forum,” O’Reilly told NewsNation.
“Rachel Scott failed, Donald Trump failed, and the happiest person in the country tonight is Kamala Harris,” he added.
The Hill has reached out to ABC for comment.
“Many people thought it was inappropriate for you to be here today,” Scott said at the start of the panel, addressing the former president’s past comments spreading doubts about Obama’s birthplace, calling on some Democrats to “go back” to their countries of origin, and his meeting with white supremacists at Mar-a-Lago.
“Why should black voters trust you?” Scott asked.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked such terrible questions. The first question, they don’t even say, hi, how are you? Are you from ABC? I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network. It’s a disgrace because I came here feeling good. I love the black people of this country and I’ve done a lot for the black people of this country,” Trump said.
During the interview, Trump also questioned Harris’ identity, falsely claiming that in the past she had only promoted her Indian descent, even though Harris is Black and of Indian descent.
“Anyone who brings skin color into the conversation in a negative way these days is a fool, that’s all,” O’Reilly said Wednesday.
“You’re stupid. Skin color has nothing to do with politics, how we live our lives, or who we are as Americans,” he added.
Trump’s comments drew backlash immediately after her appearance on an NABJ panel on Wednesday, with Harris’ campaign denounced her comments. In a statement released after the panel ended, the Trump campaign also criticized some members of the media.
“The biased and disrespectful treatment shown by hostile media members today will backfire badly,” a campaign adviser said in a statement.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
