A shouting match erupted on CNN Thursday morning when a former Trump White House official attacked Democrats for grilling Jay Clayton, the president's Director of National Intelligence nominee, on the 2020 presidential election.
Mike Dubke's critique of Clayton's confirmation hearing Wednesday was swiftly pounced upon by one co-panelist who condemned Clayton's inability to give a straight answer and state former President Joe Biden won.
"I do think it is performative art by the Democrats," said Dubke. "I'm sorry, I just it drives me nuts. They don't get to real issues because they keep wanting to ask this question."
Meghan Hayes, a former official with the Biden administration, began speaking over Dubke.
"It's an integrity question," Hayes shot back. "And it's who you stand for.... Jay Clayton, who is very well-respected, is going to debase himself knowing Joe Biden won that election."
Dubke interjected, "Clayton yesterday said that Joe Biden won the electoral vote."
"Then why couldn't he just say yes?" shouted Hayes.
"He did! He did!" Dubke shouted back.
"He humiliated himself!" Hayes cut him off.
At this point, anchor Audie Cornish stepped in.
"is it a game?" said Cornish. "Is it a gotcha to ask someone whether or not President Trump lost the election or ... who won the election? Is that a gotcha moment?"