Fox News host Brian Kilmeade faced widespread mockery after inadvertently discrediting a Republican conspiracy theory. This theory falsely claimed that President Joe Biden had a Ukrainian prosecutor fired for investigating his son. Despite multiple fact-checks disproving this narrative, Kilmeade attempted to revive it during an interview with former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, which ultimately backfired.
During the interview, Kilmeade played a clip of the former prosecutor, Victor Shokin, who had previously promoted the conspiracy theory on Fox.
However, Poroshenko swiftly shut down this narrative and called Shokin “a complete crazy person” while suggesting that there was something wrong with him. Kilmeade’s expression shifted to one of disappointment and confusion before quickly ending the interview.
Watch:
amazing – during a Fox News interview w/ Brian Kilmeade, former president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko denounces Victor Shokin, who plays as a leading role in Kilmeade's conspiracy theories, as a "completely crazy person" & says "there's something wrong with him" as Kilmeade melts pic.twitter.com/MXedG1FmrB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 25, 2023
This moment became the subject of internet ridicule.
Ed Krassenstein pointed out that Poroshenko had effectively dismantled the GOP’s accusations against Biden.
The Daily Beast described Kilmeade’s interview as inadvertently damaging to a debunked conspiracy theory that Republicans were using to attack President Biden.
Robin Unger labeled Kilmeade as “a MAGA Trump stooge,” highlighting his alignment with the Trump-supporting faction.
Despite Kilmeade’s failed attempt, Rep. James Comer and former Sen. Trey Gowdy later tried to revive the conspiracy during a Fox News broadcast on Sunday evening.
