Fox’s Shep Smith Hits Trump On Russia Questions: ‘We Have A Right To Know’

Fox News Channel chief news anchor Shepard Smith broadcasts from The Fox News Deck during his "Shepard Smith Reporting" program, in New York, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Fox News Channel chief news anchor Shepard Smith broadcasts from The Fox News Deck during his "Shepard Smith Reporting" program, in New York, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Fox News host Shepard Smith slammed President Donald Trump on Thursday for “repeating ridiculous throwaway lines” when asked about his administration’s connections to Russia.

“It’s crazy what we’re watching every day. It’s absolutely crazy,” Smith said. “He keeps repeating ridiculous throwaway lines that are not true at all and sort of avoiding this issue of Russia as if we’re some kind of fools for asking the question.”

He said that Trump’s supporters will remain loyal “either way.”

“Really? Your opposition was hacked and the Russians were responsible for it and your people were on the phone with Russia on the same day it was happening and we’re fools for asking the questions?” Smith said. “No, sir. We’re not fools for asking this question, and we demand to know the answer to this question.”

He demanded to know whether members of Trump’s campaign communicated with Russian officials and, if so, what they discussed.

“You owe this to the American people,” Smith said. “What were they saying? We have a right to know. We absolutely do, and that you call us fake news and put us down like children for asking these questions on behalf of the American people is inconsequential. The people deserve that answer, at very least.”

Trump’s former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday, days after reports revealed that he spoke about sanctions in a call with Russia’s ambassador to the United States before Trump was sworn in.

This contradicted members of Trump’s administration, including Pence, who previously denied that Flynn and the Russian ambassador discussed sanctions.

In an off-the-rails press conference on Thursday, Trump said that while he did not direct Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kislyak, it “certainly would have been OK” with him.

He also said that “Russia is fake news,” apparently responding to a Tuesday report from the New York Times that members of his campaign staff made repeated contact with Russian officials before the 2016 election.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. If roles were reversed, the GOP would be having seizures on TV.

  2. Shep, you must have something better to do than beat dead horses. Or, maybe not. You don’t seem very professional, or courageous, or even honest. Just another establishment shill, the very definition of an MSM puppet. btw, I watched much of the press conference. Trump was more honest and right than almost all of the press gasbags. He’s right. All news about Russia these days by the MSM / Congress is “fake news”, or to be more exact: b.s. and lies. Trump is right. NO wonder these paid shills for the MSM don’t like him, like Shep etc.

  3. This really is showing that the old saying “It’s OK If You Are a Republican” (IOKIYAR) to levels never seen before. For a party that prides itself on protecting the nation and fealty to the founding fathers, it sure is willing to give everything up when a true threat to the system comes along just because they are the same party. It’s actually sad to watch…I am sure history will show how bad things are, I just wonder how long it penetrates for the population.

  4. Avatar for caltg caltg says:

    Donald: You know you are in serious trouble when even Fox so-called News starts dissing you.

    You have been so worried about people and the press trying to delegitimize your presidency. They don’t need to. More than anyone else YOU are delegitimizing yourself with your childish tweets, your rambling rants on television, your complete lack of humility, your obsessive need to remind the world that you won, and your compulsion to excoriate anyone who has the temerity to criticize you.

    Mr. Trump, you are a colossal LOOOOOOOSER! It is time for you to step down!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

127 more replies

Participants

Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for silvrfox Avatar for ajaykalra Avatar for charliee Avatar for asanders91360 Avatar for deckbose Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for zoester Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for greycardinal Avatar for dnl Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for clauscph Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for brd813 Avatar for albesure Avatar for edhedh Avatar for rickjones Avatar for drtv Avatar for loss_mentality Avatar for pstein68

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: