Newsmax host Greg Kelly was met with a storm of tweets spilling into Saturday that mocked a segment from his Friday night show where the conservative host leveled attacks against the President’s dog, Champ.
Kelly on Saturday defended the segment in which he degraded President Joe Biden’s senior dog, suggesting that he had only vaguely mused that Biden’s canine friend “may need a bath.” In a Saturday afternoon tweet, the Newsmax host redirected the criticism he received for his comments back at Biden saying the criticism was proof that something was “a little ‘off’ in Joe Biden’s AMERICA!”
FOR TWO YEARS the media said DONALD TRUMP was a RUSSIAN SPY and it was all “business as usual.” Meanwhile I “muse for a moment” that Joe Biden’s dog “may need a bath” and ALL-OUT HYSTERIA breaks out. Something’s a little “off” in Joe Biden’s AMERICA!
— Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) February 20, 2021
“Did you see the dog?” Kelly had mused during the Friday show. “I wanted to show you something I noticed. Doesn’t he look a little rough? I love dogs, but this dog needs a bath, and a comb and all kinds of love and care. I’ve never seen a dog in the White House like this.”
The news questioning the care of Biden’s canine comes after New York Magazine reported on Thursday that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) had left his poodle Snowflake behind as he made a getaway to Cancun after storm damage left millions in his state without power or running water — a development that was met with rage on Twitter.
The conservative host on Friday had listed off the names of previous presidents dogs saying he had never seen a dog who looked quite like Champ.
“I don’t know how much love and care he is getting. This dog looks like, I’m sorry, like it’s from the junkyard,” he added.
A presidential historian Craig Shirley chimed in on Kelly’s attack calling Champ “dirty and disheveled and very unlike a presidential dog.”
Yet the takeaway message for many dog lovers on Twitter regarding the attacks directed at Champ, appeared to be less about whether the elderly dog was well-coiffed and more about the desperation of a right-wing host who appeared to be fresh out of jabs to direct at Biden.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) on Friday had compared the criticism of Biden’s dog to the infamous “tan suit” scandal dreamt up by now former Rep. Peter King (R-NY) who appeared on NewsMaxTV to criticize former President Barack Obama for the wardrobe choice in 2014. Others also dunked on Kelly for the low blow on Champ:
What, was he wearing a tan suit? https://t.co/9AiqU9AHv9
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) February 20, 2021
It’s ok, Champ. There was indeed an old, past his prime, disheveled, dirty, eyesore, wreck in the WH but your parents helped us get rid of him. https://t.co/aKaiwh1BH1
— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) February 20, 2021
It really says something about the integrity of Joe Biden that his critics have to resort to making fun of his senior dog.
They’re attacking him for caring for a senior dog? That earns him points in my book.
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) February 20, 2021
When you start attacking the Presidents dog which he and Dr.Biden brought home from a shelter you’ve lost – not just the election but your sense of decency. pic.twitter.com/ak1WSIbjS8
— Andrew Werthmann (@andwerth) February 20, 2021
President Biden has given the right wing nothing to complain about so they have decided to sink to a new low.
Picking on his dog Champ.
It takes a dirty dog to know a dirty dog Greg Kelly.
— Chris Hahn (@ChristopherHahn) February 20, 2021
Champ is an elderly dog that's lived a good life. As a USSS agent I saw how very well the Biden's treated their dogs. Biden's never left their dog in a cold house to go to Cancun
— Jim Helminski (@jhelminski) February 20, 2021
Quick message to @gregkellyusa @newsmax @CraigSmpa and @DougWead : Fuck You.
This is a 12-year old German Shepherd – a senior dog. And you’re insulting his APPEARANCE?
He’s in better shape than any of you – and smarter than all of you combined. https://t.co/1uH3VY4hiK
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 20, 2021
Attacking Biden's senior dog, how very Tan Suit adjacent https://t.co/ICtog8Xrvp
— Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) February 20, 2021
Greg Kelly, who dat?
So Republican of them. Classless twits.
Up side is obvious, they don’t have anything even close to coherent to attack the President and First Lady with so they attack their dog. You can’t make this shit up.
Never pick on the senior dog. Junior dog is open season, however.
What a jagoff!
But I can almost hear Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham saying this after hearing about this asshole going after Biden’s 12-year-old dog:
“Gee, why didn’t I think of that!”
Why would they give a rat’s ass about an older dog? They don’t wear masks and risk the lives of vulnerable elderly people, so fuck them. They are FUBAR.