CNN Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings, who frequently defends Donald Trump on-air, has been accused of “trashing” the president when the cameras are off.
After appearing alongside Jennings on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip Monday night, Miles Taylor, former Homeland Security Department chief of staff under Trump, wrote on X Tuesday, “You know who’s a perfect metaphor for the GOP? Scott Jennings.
“A pundit who mocks Trump with us during commercial breaks — but fawns over Trump when the camera is rolling. Brave enough to speak out… in the green room.”
Taylor and Jennings got into arguments on CNN the night before over Trump’s war in Iran and the president’s massive immigration crackdown at home.
At one point, Jennings asked Taylor, “Do you think the Ayatollah prefers his life under Obama or under Trump?” Taylor replied, “The Ayatollah’s dead,” referring to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed early on in the war by U.S.-Israeli strikes.
“You heard it here first,” Jennings sarcastically said, after which a shouting match ensued.
Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, a Trump critic who is no longer affiliated with the GOP, accused Jennings of being a liar when asked about Taylor’s allegations in an interview with self-described liberal writer Tommy Christopher on Substack Wednesday.
“Back in the day, Tommy, when I was evil Mr. Tea Partier, he was Mr. RINO Establishment Republican…He found out that he can make a s***load of money by being a MAGA tough guy. And that’s what he’s done. He plays a role. He doesn’t believe what he says. He lies,” Walsh said.
Walsh said he isn’t expecting an invite to appear on a CNN panel with Jennings anytime soon.
“There’s no f***ing way I’ll ever probably be invited to sit on a set with him because he’s a f***ing crybaby and I have no doubt that he’s probably told Abby’s producers, don’t put Joe Walsh at the table.”
Julie Roginsky, co-founder of the women-led independent media company, The Mayday Network, and a former Fox News and CNBC contributor, said she could corroborate Taylor’s and Walsh’s comments.
She wrote on X Thursday that “Scott Jennings trashed Trump in the green room repeatedly in front of me. Also have my suspicions that he has a say in getting people banned from the show who stick it to him and make him look like a fool.”
Wajahat Ali, author of The Left Hook Substack, replied to Roginsky’s post Friday, writing, “Did the same when I was at CNN. In fact, nearly every GOP hack did so except Paris Dennard and Jeffrey Lord.”
The Independent has reached out to Jennings, Taylor, Walsh, Ali and CNN for comment. It also reached out to The Mayday Network for comment from Roginsky.
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