Fox News host Sean Hannity slammed Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during an interview this week over remarks that he made during an interview with Tucker Carlson where Hannity said that Ramaswamy had suggested that certain politicians only had “selective moral outrage” caring about Israel because of “financial and corrupting influences that lead them exactly to speak the way they do.”
Ramaswamy denied Hannity’s framing of his remarks, saying that it was a “shameful mischaracterization.”
“Vivek, wait a minute, stop right now. You do this in every single interview,” Hannity responded. “You say stuff and then you deny it. You deny your own words. So, you know, why don’t you just always say and stand by it and stop playing these games?”
Ramaswamy said that he was owning his words and that he was talking about Azerbaijan and Armenia when he made the remarks. During his conversation with Carlson, Ramaswamy referenced “selective moral outrage” while saying that the conflict with Azerbaijan and the Armenia was not getting much attention because Azerbaijan had a powerful lobby in Washington, D.C.
“You’re not answering my question,” Hannity said. “Answer the question!”
A few minutes later, the interview grew more contentious after Ramaswamy suggested that some Republicans should be disqualified from being president during wartime because of defense sector-related jobs they have previously held.
“A lot of people don’t think you’re qualified because you weren’t even a Republican or voting Republican till what? 2020?” Hannity replied. “When did you first vote Republican?”
“Here’s your problem — you go on these shows, people quote your exact words, and you deny your own words,” Hannity later added.
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Amid cross-talk, Hannity yelled, “I am quoting your exact words!”
After Ramaswamy said that Hannity did directly quote his words — again saying that he was speaking of Azerbaijan and Armenia — Hannity said, “Thank you. Goodbye.”
The feed was cut just a few moments later.
“I think it’s asinine to think somebody that worked in the defense industry should not be qualified to be president,” Hannity added after Ramawamy was cut. “I think people that never held public office, like you, maybe they’re not qualified to be president.”
This is like the 300th time Vivek has said something inflammatory, been presented with his own words verbatim, and feigned moral outrage that he was being somehow mischaracterized.
This is embarrassing and he should drop out. pic.twitter.com/uGBB7lBYTR
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 13, 2023
Editor’s Note: This article has been expanded to include more context about Ramaswamy’s initial remarks.