Brian Kilmeade Sparks Fox News Backlash After “Disgraceful” On-Air Boast Leaves Viewers Fuming
Brian Kilmeade appeared as a guest host on The Five (Image: FOX News)
Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade made comments about President Donald Trump that drew criticism from his conservative audience.
During the Fox News broadcast of The Five on July 9, Kilmeade, 62, filled in for the absent Jesse Watters, 48, and assumed his seat on the panel. The discussion centered on former Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner facing sexual assault allegations from a 41-year-old Maine resident. Platner, 41, has strongly denied the accusations, which allegedly took place nearly five years ago, while withdrawing from the Maine U.S. Senate race.
Kilmeade then drew a comparison between President Trump, 80, and Platner. This followed the same host’s previous criticism of the president regarding his approach to the failed Iran peace talks.
Kilmeade remarked, “I think the one difference is with Trump. I don’t know if the analogy might be relevant. But with Trump, if you accuse him, he’s going to tell you, ‘No! You accuse me! I’ll point you out!'”
He continued, “He’ll tell you directly, exactly what it is!”
Brian Kilmeade was mocked online for his comments on The Five (Image: undefined)
“He doesn’t say generally it’s not true. He’ll tell you exactly who accused him. And he’ll tell you why it’s not true. So he would confront these people. He just said it’s not true!
“Well, you dated her for a while, tell me why it’s not true!” Kilmeade went on and added, “Tell me the proof! That would show a guy that wanted a fight over the last six days, that’s probably what could have kept him in the race, if he pushed back and had proof that he didn’t do it,” Kilmeade concluded.
Trump has faced accusations from more than two dozen women alleging predatory and inappropriate conduct. He has strongly rejected these claims.
Trump also generated significant backlash in September 2005 after being recorded saying, “I don’t even wait, and when you’re a star, they let you do it, You can do anything… Grab ’em by the p—y. You can do anything.”
Graham Platner dropped out of the Senate race (Image: Getty Images)
Social media users condemned Kilmeade’s remarks, calling them morally inappropriate.
One commenter stated, “Disgraceful Kilmeade!”
While another wrote, “Conservative logic is nuts. Making it okay for Trump to have an excuse for everything.”
A third posted, “Maybe Platner should’ve taken a page from the Trump Playbook and deny everything even if there is proof.”
On July 4, E. Jean Carroll filed a petition requesting a judge compel President Trump to pay the $5 million in damages granted to her.
President Donald Trump was compared to Graham Platner on The Five (Image: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The president was determined liable for sexually abusing and defaming her in a civil lawsuit three years ago.
After a 2023 trial, a jury concluded Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her through false denials, which damaged her reputation.
