Fox and Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade called the Republican House Freedom Caucus members who refuse to vote for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for House speaker “insurrectionists.”
He quickly backtracked after some pushback from his co-hosts, accepting the alternative label of “saboteurs,” as suggested by Ainsley Earhardt.
MCCARTHY FAILS ON EIGHTH BALLOT AS SPEAKER CHAOS CONTINUES INTO THIRD DAY
“All right, but here’s the thing: If you pick Jim … it just shows how insincere the insurrectionists are. … Er, I probably shouldn’t use that word — the people who don’t want to vote for Kevin McCarthy,” Kilmeade said before agreeing on the label “saboteurs” instead.
Brian Kilmeade’s Freudian slip speaks volumes . They’re all in for the swamp. pic.twitter.com/1frZ20VA9n
— First Amemedment (@_the_corner_pub) January 5, 2023
“They would disagree with that word,” co-host Steve Doocy noted.
Kilmeade was quickly attacked by conservative figures who support the Republican congressional rebels, accusing the Fox and Friends co-host of cowardice.
“A brief list of Brian Kilmeade’s books: they’re all about a few standing against many, the American Revolution, desperate fights against the odds,” associate editor of Chronicles magazine Pedro Gonzalez tweeted. “That he’s now attacking the few Republicans taking a stand on principle shows he’s a fraud. He doesn’t believe in what he sells.”
A brief list of Brian Kilmeade’s books: they’re all about a few standing against many, the American Revolution, desperate fights against the odds.
That he’s now attacking the few Republicans taking a stand on principle shows he’s a fraud. He doesn’t believe in what he sells. https://t.co/q5wC62GxUG pic.twitter.com/C1d1xmE0QT
— Pedro L. Gonzalez (@emeriticus) January 5, 2023
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Kilmeade’s harsh rhetoric showcases some of the chaos that the battle over the speakership has caused within the Republican Party. McCarthy has failed in eight consecutive votes to achieve the 218 votes needed to become speaker.
