An intense and uncomfortable silence enveloped a CNN panel on Wednesday night when Republican strategist Scott Jennings was queried about Donald Trump’s inflammatory comments regarding Haitians allegedly eating pets. The discussion occurred on NewsNight With Abby Phillip, where Jennings, a network contributor and former special assistant to George W. Bush, faced scrutiny over the former president’s dubious claims about Haitian migrants consuming cats, dogs, and geese in Springfield, Ohio—rumors local authorities have debunked.
Jennings attempted to navigate the conversation by framing the discussion around broader issues related to immigration’s impact on communities. “I do think it’s a legitimate conversation to have about the societal public safety health impacts any time cities or communities get drastically changed because of our immigration system,” he said, referencing various locations such as Springfield, the U.S.-Mexico border, and New York City.
However, CNN panelist Ana Navarro directly challenged Jennings on whether Trump’s statements were racially motivated. “He was amplifying a conspiracy theory that I think you would agree puts a target on the backs of Haitian immigrants and that it is based on racism,” Navarro asserted. “Would you agree on that?”
Jennings remained silent, staring at the table as the conversation grew more uncomfortable. Panelist Nina Turner further emphasized, “Anti-Black racism, to be more pointed.”
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Navarro pressed further, questioning whether Jennings believed that if 20,000 Scandinavians were relocated to Springfield, the same inflammatory conspiracy would be spread. Jennings, raising his hands in a defensive gesture, replied, “Look, I’m not gonna answer for him, for his memes, or anything else.”
Navarro insisted on a direct answer: “Do you think that conspiracy is based on racism? I mean, it’s an easy answer—yes or no?”
Jennings hesitated, finally stating, “I’m not going to answer. I don’t know. I don’t know!”
“That was a long pause, Scott,” host Abby Phillip pointed out, prompting Jennings to respond flustered, “Because I don’t know the answer. And I’m not going to sit here and answer for somebody. I don’t talk to Donald Trump about what the motivations are, and I don’t answer to you either!”
Jennings then avoided Phillip’s request for his own perspective on Navarro’s question, instead redirecting the conversation to the broader issue of immigration policy.
“The bottom line is immigration is a top-two issue in this election,” he argued. “It must be discussed, and we’re either going to go down a rabbit hole here which is not the real issue, or we’re going to talk about the real issues, in which communities, cities, whatever, are dealing with real societal and policy impacts.”
Navarro was not satisfied with this pivot.
“The reason we are going down the rabbit hole is because the man you support is making us go down that rabbit hole,” she retorted. “The reason we’re not talking about the legitimate issues you have brought up is because he is claiming with no facts that Haitian migrants are eating pets! And that is a dangerous conspiracy theory to be spreading to America.”
Watch the exchange below from CNN:
Navarro: He was amplifying a conspiracy theory that I think you would agree puts a target on the back of Haitian immigrants and that it is based on racism. Would you agree on that?
Jennings: … … … … pic.twitter.com/OZHETT7CgR
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 12, 2024
