CNN anchor Abby Phillip on Monday joined those who were defending pro-Hamas agitator Mahmoud Khalil, asking repeatedly whether he had really done anything that warranted deportation.
Khalil, who was connected to the protests at Columbia University, was detained by President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend — and the administration has since declared that his legal immigration status will be revoked so that he can be deported.
Democrats have rallied to support Khalil, claiming that he is guilty of nothing more than exercising free speech that President Trump did not like — and Phillip joined them.
Republican commentator Scott Jennings made the case for President Trump’s plan, saying, “He’s a resident alien and he can be deported under U.S. law for — if the Secretary of State has ‘a reasonable ground to believe that he would have a potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequence.'”
He attempted to lay out how Khalil fit that description, but Phillip interrupted him.
“Before you move on, because I think that’s a really important point, right? That’s the statute that they’re using,” she said. “Have you seen any evidence to suggest that there is actually a serious reason to believe that this student is gonna be threat to national security?”
“I’ve certainly watched the abomination that’s gone on at Columbia,” Jennings replied. “And Barnard and other places —”
“So, a threat to national security?” Phillip interrupted again.
Jennings tried to bring up the organization with which Khalil is affiliated, but Phillip interrupted him a third time, saying, “I’m not going to let you move on —”
“I’ll tell you why he’s a threat to national security if you’ll let me answer you,” Jennings said. “Do you want me to answer you or not? His organization says, ‘We are dedicated to fighting for the total eradication of western civilization.'”
“Okay,” Phillip replied.
“He’s not a citizen, he doesn’t need to be here,” Jennings added.
“You just described him having viewpoints that you disagree with,” Phillip continued. “Again, is that enough to have someone lose their rights in this country?”
“He has viewpoints that in my opinion jeopardize the security of the United States —” Jennings said.
“How?” Phillip asked. “But how?”
“He is obviously a radical who is here to foment violence against the United States government!” Jennings shot back while Phillip and several other panelists all began talking at once.
