Fox News host Megyn Kelly and Newt Gingrich threw down over the sexual accusations against Donald Trump on Tuesday night in a fiery, instantly viral exchange. Things got particularly explosive when Kelly used the term “sexual predator” in reference to Trump, prompting Gingrich to accuse her of being “fascinated with sex” and disinterested in public policy and daring her to use the term to describe Bill Clinton. Kelly eventually shut the former Speaker of the House down, telling him he could go work out his “anger issues” somewhere else.
When Gingrich expressed skepticism about the sexual accusations against Trump over the last few weeks and the importance of covering them compared to Hillary Clinton’s misdeeds, Kelly defended news coverage of the story.
“As a media story, we don’t get to say that 10 women are lying. We have to cover that story, sir,” said Kelly.
Gingrich pushed back, citing Clinton’s “secret speech in Brazil to a bank that pays her 225,000 [dollars], saying her dream is an open border where 600 million people could come to America,” asking, “That’s not worth covering?”
Kelly countered by pointing out that they had covered it, but when she brought up the term “sexual predator,” things really heated up.
“If Trump is a sexual predator, that is–,” began Kelly.
“He’s not a sexual predator,” interjected Gingrich. “You can’t say that. You could not defend that statement.
“I have not taken a position on it,” said Kelly calmly.
“I’m sick and tired of people like you using inflammatory language that is not true,” said the former speaker.
From that point, the conversation went from combative to downright hostile, both sides holding nothing back, with Gingrich accusing Kelly of media bias and sex-obsession and Kelly calling out Gingrich on his “anger” and “defensiveness.”
Partial transcript below:
GINGRICH: Let me point out something to you: The three major networks spent 23 minutes attacking Donald Trump that night, and 57 seconds on Hillary Clinton’s secret speeches. You don’t think that is a scale of bias worthy of Pravda?
KELLY: If Trump is a sexual predator, that is–
GINGRICH: He’s not a sexual predator. You can’t say that. You could not defend that statement.
KELLY: I have not taken a position on it.
GINGRICH: I’m sick and tired of people like you using inflammatory language that is not true.
KELLY: Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, you have no idea whether it is true or not. What we know–
GINGRICH: Neither do you.
KELLY: I’m not taking a position on it.
GINGRICH: Yes you are. When you used the words, you took a position. It is very unfair of you to do that, Megyn.
KELLY: Incorrect.
GINGRICH: That is exactly the bias people are sick of.
KELLY: I think that your defensiveness on this speaks volumes, sir… What I said if if Trump is a sexual predator, than it is a big story. And what we saw on that tape was Trump himself saying he liked to grab women by the genitals, and kiss them against their will. Then we saw ten women come forward after he denied it at a debate… He denies it all, which is his right. We don’t know what the truth is. My point to you is, as a media story, we don’t get to say the ten women are liars. We have to cover that story.
GINGRICH: So it took 23 minutes for the networks to cover that story, and Hillary Clinton had a secret speech in Brazil to a bank that pays her $225,000 saying that her dream is an open border where 600 million people could come to America, that is not worth covering.
Do you want me to go back to the tapes of your show recently. You are fascinated with sex, and you don’t care about public policy.
KELLY: Me, really?
GINGRICH: That’s what I get out of watching you tonight.
KELLY: You know what, Mr. Speaker, I’m not fascinated by sex, by I am fascinated by the protection of women and what we’re getting in the Oval Office.
GINGRICH: That’s why we’re going to send Bill Clinton back to the East Wing, because you are worried about a sexual predator…
KELLY: Yeah, listen, it’s not about me. It’s about the women and men of America. And the poll numbers show us that the women of America, in particular, are very concerned about these allegations and, in large part, believe that they are a real issue. And don’t dismiss the women …
GINGRICH: Do you want to comment on whether the Clinton ticket has a relationship to a sexual predator?
KELLY: We on “The Kelly File” have covered that story as well, sir.
GINGRICH: No, I just want to hear you use the words. I want to hear you use the words “Bill Clinton, sexual predator.” I dare you. Say “Bill Clinton, sexual predator.”
KELLY: Mr. Speaker, we’ve covered — excuse me, sir …
GINGRICH: Disbarred by the Iowa, by the Arkansas bar.
KELLY: Excuse me. excuse me.
GINGRICH: Disbarred by the Arkansas bar. Eight hundred fifty thousand dollar penalty.
KELLY: Excuse me, sir. We on “The Kelly File” have covered the Clinton matter as well. We’ve hosted Kathleen Willey …
GINGRICH: Well, try saying it.
KELLY: We’ve covered the examples of him being accused as well, but he’s not on the ticket. And the polls also show that the American public is less interested…
GINGRICH: He’ll be in the, he’ll be in the East Wing.
KELLY: … in the deeds of Hillary Clinton’s husband than they are in the deeds of the man who asks us to make him president, Donald Trump. We’re going to have to leave it at that, and you can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for being here.
GINGRICH: And you, too. You, too.
Partial transcripts via Real Clear Politics, Washington Post.