Outraged Congresswoman Lost it When Fox News Host Brought Up Her Calling Trump a ‘Whack Job'

Elise Stefanik, a maverick Republican who supports Donald Trump, became agitated with a Fox News anchor when anchor Shannon Bream brought up a story from The New York Times with quotes from several of the lawmaker's old acquaintances about how she became a Trump supporter.

According to the Times piece, Stefanik said in 2016 that Trump was 'insulting to women' when he boasted on the Access Hollywood video that he enjoyed 'grabbing' women 'by the p---y.' The newspaper reportedly got a message in which Stefanik called Trump a 'whack job,' adding that she felt Trump was 'too awful and ridiculous to be taken seriously'. As reported by The Rolling Stone, clearly agitated, Stefanik retaliated, "Well, Shannon, it’s a disgrace that you would quote The New York Times with nameless, faceless false sources. But, they are quoting your friends, so I’m giving you a chance to respond to that."

"But they're quoting you, Congresswoman," Bream shot back. Stefanik responded, branding her detractors as 'nameless', "No, no, no, Shannon … they’re not quoting my friends. Those names are not included because they are false smears." Bream again corrected her, pointing out that some of her detractors had names. Reiterating that the report was a 'false smear', Stefanik attempted to draw attention to her early endorsement of Trump in public after assuming office. Stefanik said, "This is a false smear. And let me tell you … a fact, Shannon, in 2016, I was attacked as the only elected Republican from the Northeast who voted for President Trump."

As per The Mirror, she further stated, "Going back to when he ran for 2016, which was when it was my first reelection to the House. I have strongly supported him. He is going to be the next president of the United States. The American people know that. My constituents know that. And I’m proud to be one of his strongest allies in Congress. I have always put my district first, New York 21 first and America first. And this is an opportunity for us to stop the failures of Joe Biden and elect a president who led to a booming economy, a strong national security. But my record speaks for itself, Shannon."

Stefanik did not back Trump in the 2016 primary, despite her subsequent shift to the Republican side and her declaration last month that she was 'ultra-MAGA.' Even one month before the general election, she was publicly critical of the ideas he was proposing, but she often refrained from calling Trump by name. After Mike Pence's personal revolt against him in 2020 over his stolen election claims, Trump is said to be seeking a loyalist who would assimilate to his demands and whims, and Stefanik is reportedly one of many Republicans hoping to be his running mate in 2024. Numerous pieces in prominent publications like the Times have focused on her shift from being a Trump critic to a Trump loyalist, and it is evident that she has found it difficult to shed this political burden.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on May 20, 2024. It has since been updated.