Fox News' Shep Smith firmly dismantles Trump's unfounded claims about 'Spygate'
Fox News host Shepard Smith isn't taking President Trump's tweets at face value.
During his news show on Tuesday, Smith tore into some of Trump's recent claims point-by-point. In an early-morning tweet, the president accused Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigative team of "meddling" in the upcoming midterm elections. He called the team, which has been tasked with investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian meddling during the 2016 election, "13 Angry Democrats."
Smith was not having it, calling Trump's claims "conspiracy theories" that are "unfounded, not based in fact or reason, with no evidence to support them." The Fox News host pointed out that Mueller is in fact a Republican, and emphasized that neither Trump nor the White House has produced any evidence of wrongdoing to support the president's public accusations.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
"The so-called 'rigged Russia witch hunt' is not a witch hunt," said Smith, "it has resulted in charges against four former Trump associates." The host also shut down Trump's complaints that an FBI informant speaking to campaign staffers amounted to inappropriate "spying." Watch the full takedown below, via Media Matters. Summer Meza
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
Autumn Budget: will Rachel Reeves raid the rich?Talking Point To fill Britain’s financial black hole, the Chancellor will have to consider everything – except an income tax rise
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
