Megyn Kelly tells Anderson Cooper how threats from Team Trump led to a year of security guards

Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night that nothing could have prepared her for the firestorm that erupted after she confronted Donald Trump at an early GOP primary debate about his history of disparaging women. Trump had spoken with her four days earlier on the phone, angry about one of her segments, and he called her a disgrace and threatened to unleash his Twitter account on her. He was only angrier after the debate, and insisted on going on CNN at the same time her show aired on Fox. It was on that CNN segment he made his "blood coming out of her whatever" comment, Kelly said, and "things would never be the same. It was a game-changer."

The changed game included security for her and her family. "We had security guards the whole year," Kelly said. "I mean, the threat level got so high that it was impossible not to take that seriously." It wasn't just Trump, either. Michael Cohen, a Trump surrogate and lawyer, had retweeted a threat to "gut" Kelly, earning a scolding from Fox executive Bill Shine. "He didn't much care, and what Bill Shine said to Michael Cohen was, 'Let me put it to you in terms you can understand: If Megyn Kelly gets killed, it's not going to help your candidate,'" Kelly recounted.

"There's no question that some of the tactics engaged in by those supporting — in Team Trump, were questionable," she added. "Corey Lewandowski specifically threatened me if I showed up at the second debate hosted by Fox News," and various threats continued until the election. "The point is," Kelly said, "these are not your normal tactics that we see in a presidential race unleashed against a journalist who asked a tough question."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Cooper asked about allegations of serial sexual harassment by ousted Fox News chief Roger Ailes, and Bill O'Reilly's comment that Kelly should have gone to HR instead of spilling the story in a book. "At Fox News it's very true that Roger Ailes was very much a king of sorts," Kelly said. "He had loyalists placed throughout the company and he demanded loyalty. I mean, O'Reilly speaks of loyalty — that is the culture that Roger demanded, that that should be placed above all things." Cooper and Kelly ended with their shared experience of losing a father at a young age. Watch below. Peter Weber