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.”
Fox News: “Your opposition hacked and we’re fools for asking the question? No Sir. We’re not fools…The American people deserve to know.” pic.twitter.com/2jVuSV3EMv
— Julia Macfarlane (@juliamacfarlane) February 16, 2017
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.
