Conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt will return as a guest panelist for two upcoming Republican presidential debates, bringing with him his knowledge of United States foreign policy and world events.
Hewitt will join with CNN debate moderators on Dec. 15 in Las Vegas, and again on March 10 in Florida.
“I am excited by the opportunity to continue to help shape the conversation about which of the candidates ought to be the GOP nominee in 2016,” the radio host said in a statement Wednesday.
“My focus remains on posing questions that elicit answers GOP primary voters will find helpful in casting their ballots … I’ve done over 50 in-depth interviews with the candidates who remain in the field and will continue to invite them onto my radio show between now and March to pose tough, straightforward questions. There’s no better way for me or for them to prepare,” he added.
Hewitt participated as a panelist in the second televised GOP debate, querying the Republican candidates on a wide array of foreign policy questions.
But prior to that debate, which took place in September at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Hewitt became embroiled in a public spat with Republican front-runner Donald Trump, whose supporters accused the conservative radio host of playing “gotcha” journalism.
During the interview, which drew low marks from reporters on both sides, Trump responded to a question about Iran’s Quds force by suggesting that the United States has treated the Kurds “terribly.” Trump said later that he misunderstood the question. Elsewhere, Trump couldn’t explain the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah, and was unable to answer a question about trade with China, and instead broke off into a tangent about his polling numbers.
Sensing that the interview did him no favors, Trump immediately lashed out at Hewitt, accusing the “third-rate radio announcer” of asking “gotcha” question. Right-wing entertainer Laura Ingraham came to Trump’s defense, suggesting on social media that the radio host is the “new Katie Couric.”
Hewitt and Trump have since made amends, and the two appeared to be on friendly terms during the second GOP debate.
Hewitt interviewed former Hewlett-Packard CEO and Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina the same night that he interviewed Trump. The sole female voice in the GOP primary was asked the same questions, but unlike Trump, she didn’t struggle with her answers, and she didn’t complain afterwards about Hewitt’s questions.
Hewitt did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
