'That didn't go as planned': Fox & Friends accidentally books wrong guest, who goes on an anti-Trump rant
Fox & Friends hosts were expecting a Democrat supporter of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during their live segment but they were left baffled when they had to hear an unexpected rant against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
The co-hosts of the morning talk show, Rob Schmitt and Jillian Mele, had reportedly invited a Democrat running for the US Congress in Arizona, Ann Kirkpatrick, to talk on the show. Kirkpatrick was booed at during a primary debate last week after she backed ICE during the discussion.
However, they got a Massachusetts Democrat instead after a booking mix-up. The Massachusetts State Senator Barbara L'Italien, who is also running for Congress and is an opponent of ICE and the president's immigration policies, took the opportunity to send her message directly to Trump.
During the segment, Schmitt and Mele asked L'Italien — assuming she was Kirkpatrick — about the reasons she supports the ICE.
However, the hosts were taken aback when L'Italien directly addressed the president, who is an avid viewer of Fox News, particularly 'Fox & Friends.'
L’Italien said: "Good morning, I’m actually here to speak directly to Donald Trump. I feel that what’s happening at the border is wrong. I believe that separating kids from their parents is illegal and inhumane."
The Massachusetts Democrat then attempted to clear the confusion and identified herself by her name and said that she represents a large immigrant community in her area.
"I keep thinking about what we’re putting parents through and imagining how terrifying that must be for those families, imagining how it would feel not knowing if I’d ever see my kids again," she continued.
"We have to stop abducting children and ripping them from their parents’ arms, and stop putting kids in cages, and stop making 3-year-olds defend themselves in court," L’Italien added.
The co-hosts, however, still were under the impression that they were talking to Kirkpatrick and interjected, saying that the ICE agents have stopped separating families at the US-Mexico border now.
The Democrat attempted to clear the misunderstanding again by repeating her name as the co-hosts appeared confused and muttered: "Who is this?"
After establishing that they had got the wrong person, the show's producers cut off L'Italien's feed as Schmitt said: "That didn't go as planned." While Mele added: "That's what happens sometimes."
After the broadcast ended, Schmitt took to Twitter to slam L'Italien for hijacking the show and called the incident a "publicity stunt" and added in subsequent tweets that the Democrat was "desperate for attention."
While the other co-host of the show, Mele, addressed the situation, saying that it was: "One heck of a Morning so far. By the way, kind of a weak move to do this on live TV," she tweeted.
L’Italien also released a statement on Twitter along with a link of her appearance at the morning show and said that this was the only way she could directly reach President Trump.
"Just did an appearance on @FoxNews to talk to Donald Trump about his vile, racist policies at the border. As the state senator from a strong immigrant community where people are living in fear, this morning I took an opportunity to amplify their voices directly to @realDonaldTrump the only place where I knew he would be listening - Fox News," she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Ann Kirkpatrick also involved herself in the exchange and slammed Fox News "and other outlets" for releasing "false reports regarding her stance on ICE."