If White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders thought she'd be getting a softball interview when she went on Fox & Friends Friday morning, she was in for an unpleasant surprise.
Instead of simply letting her push the administration's narrative, Fox News' Brian Kilmeade hammered Sanders for President Trump's recent decision to withdraw troops from Syria. Kilmeade, who has been fuming about this news all week, told Sanders that Trump is "doing exactly what he criticized President Obama for doing," pointing out that Trump said Barack Obama is the "founder of ISIS" because he pulled troops out of the Middle East. "He just refounded ISIS," Kilmeade said of Trump, not bothering to hide his rage or even ask Sanders a question.
Sanders, who seemed taken aback, shook her head and said the president has "nothing to do with helping ISIS re-emerge." But Kilmeade shot back, "Leaving is helping." When Sanders said the U.S. is leaving because ISIS has been almost completely wiped out in Syria, Kilmeade said that "the word on the ground is different from what you just said."
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At that point, co-host Ainsley Earhardt wrapped up the interview by cheerfully wishing Sanders a merry Christmas, while a still visibly frustrated Kilmeade didn't crack a smile. Watch the testy exchange below. Brendan Morrow
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