'You're avoiding answering any questions': Republican cornered by CNN's Anderson Cooper

Republican political strategist Brad Todd found himself on the defensive during a Monday night interview on Anderson Cooper’s primetime show when he was called out by the host for appearing to evade questions related to the government's long-established anti-HIV/AIDS initiative.

The moment happened Monday during a panel discussion on CNN's “Anderson Cooper Live,” when Cooper grew frustrated with the longtime Republican strategist dodging his line of questioning while discussing the possibility that the U.S Agency for International Development, or USAID, could shut down and prevent HIV medication from being distributed overseas.

“People are going to die in very large numbers around the world who are expecting the United States to live up to our promises, to get them medicine, to get them help,” former Obama White House official Van Jones told viewers. “And when that happens, people are going to remember that there are people right now who have HIV, who are alive only because the United States is making sure of that. Donald Trump says, ‘We don't care. You go die.’ That's the message from the United States government.”

Shaking his head in disagreement, Todd tried to explain away actions by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But that didn’t sit well with Cooper, who pressed him on the specifics of the HIV medication program that Jones referenced – the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.

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Cooper reminded Todd that PEPFAR was “actually started by George W. Bush, and it saved 25 million lives since that time.”

“PEPFAR is a great program, but there's no reason it shouldn't be run directly out of the State Department,” Todd replied.

“Do you know anything about HIV medication?” Cooper asked. “Because if you stop HIV medication, the virus flares back and it mutates, so if you have millions of people who are dependent on HIV medication...”

That's when Todd jumped in and added that he’s “not arguing against PEPFAR,” before telling Cooper “No I’m not, no I’m not,” when the CNN host shot back and told him, “Well, you seem to be because you're avoiding answering any questions.”

The tense exchange concluded when Todd agreed that it would “of course” not be “wise” if the PEPFAR program ended while reiterating his point that the program can be administered “out of the State Department.”

Watch the clip below or at this link: