Fox News once again finds one of its hosts questioning Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) loyalty to the U.S., with Fox and Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade saying on Wednesday, “You have to wonder if she’s an American first.”
Kilmeade was responding to Omar’s speech to the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), during which she described 9/11 as “some people did something.”
“Really? ‘Some people did something?'” Kilmeade asks. “You have to wonder if she’s an American first.”
Omar was highlighting the necessity of CAIR. Her full quote was: “CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.”
Kilmeade’s remarks come a mere month after Fox News host Jeanine Pirro made similar comments about Omar’s hijab being “antithetical” to the U.S. Constitution. In response to the backlash, Fox News said they “strongly condemn” Pirro’s comment, and her show was suspended for two weeks.
Kilmeade addressed his comment later on Wednesday, tweeting that he “didn’t intend to question whether Rep. Omar is an American.”
I didn't intend to question whether Rep. Omar is an American – I am questioning how any American, let alone a United States Congresswoman, could downplay the 9/11 attacks.
— Brian Kilmeade (@kilmeade) April 10, 2019
Watch his comments below:
Brian Kilmeade says of Rep. Ilhan Omar, "You have to wonder if she is an American first."
Then says, "In the name of religion, they kill Americans and still do it on a daily basis." pic.twitter.com/IpUDL7u7Xt
— Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) April 10, 2019
This post has been updated to include Kilmeade’s tweet.
