On Tuesday night, tempers flared during a Fox News segment on the recent release of text messages sent by some of the network’s top influencers to then-chief of staff Mark Meadows during the Jan 6 riot at the US Capitol. The heated war of words started after panelist Geraldo Rivera directly accused former President Donald Trump of inciting the deadly attack.
Host Sean Hannity tried to change the subject by asking Rivera why Congress was only investigating the Capitol riot and not the nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd last year, which saw some incidents of rioting from the demonstrators.
Rivera replied that those riots were not an attack on the American republic and system of government the way that this one was.
“This was a riot that was unleashed, incited, and inspired by the president of the United States, which targeted the heart of American democracy” Rivera charged.
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Hannity quickly jumped in and tried to deflect blame by claiming that Trump had urged protesters to act “peacefully,” without noting the fact that Trump for more than three hours refused to tell the rioters to leave the Capitol after the riots had begun.
Rivera didn’t back down and cited Hannity’s own texts that he sent to Meadows during the riots asking Trump to put out a statement telling people to leave.
“I beg you, Sean, to remember the frame of mind you were in when you wrote that text on January 6,” he said. And when Laura did. And when Brian did. And when Don Jr. did! Remember that concern you had. Remember the frustration you had at our beloved 45th president.”
Hannity cut Rivera off and asked guest Dan Bongino to have the final word in the discussion. Bongino answered by accusing Rivera of “backstabbing” Trump.
“The backstabbing of the president you’re engaging in is really disgusting!” he fumed. But Rivera was not taking it and a heated argument ensued.
Watch the video below.
Geraldo to Sean Hannity: "I beg you, Sean, to remember the frame of mind you weren’t when you wrote that text on January 6. And when Laura did. And when Brian did. And when Don Jr. did!"
Dan Bongino reacts by blasting Geraldo for "backstabbing" Trump. pic.twitter.com/YSPYfBwAf4
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 15, 2021
