NBC meteorologist Al Roker called Kentucky’s governor a “nitwit” for complaining about school closures during extreme cold weather.
Roker made the comment about Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, Wednesday during a forecast on MSNBC covering how warmer weather is expected along the eastern half of the U.S. after major cold snap.
“By the way, I just have to say this nitwit governor in Kentucky saying that, ‘Oh, we’re weak,’ these are kids who are going to be in subzero wind chills,” he said.
“No. Cancel school. Stop it. You know, adults, if they wanna be out there, that’s great. These are our children — you know. I’m glad you’re not a teacher,” Roker said.
[Also read: NOAA reminds us ‘winter storms don’t prove that global warming isn’t happening’ after Trump tweet]
Al Roker with some strong words for Matt Bevin this morning pic.twitter.com/jDxqWsPyyv
— Matt Jones (@MattJonesRadio) January 30, 2019
In a radio interview Tuesday, Bevin complained about school closings across the state as wind chill values dropped below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, which Weather.com says is cold enough for frostbite to occur in 30 minutes.
“There’s no ice going with it or any snow. What happens to America. We’re getting soft, Terry, we’re getting soft,” he said on 840 WHAS radio. He was talking with host Terry Meiners, who had just said the “deep freeze” is “serious business.”
That statement was condemned by the Kentucky Education Association, which tweeted: “We will always support decisions made for the health & safety of Kentucky’s children. Always.”
In Minnesota, another state dealing with the polar vortex this week, Gov. Tim Walz applauded school districts for canceling classes, saying they “know best,” after he declined to order them closed.
