Fox News host's tailgate attack demolished by fact-check: 'Shut up and dribble'

A Fox News host's attempt to smear a Democrat Senate hopeful was subject to a brutal fact check this weekend.

Laura Ingraham took to X on Saturday night to insult Abdul El-Sayed's recent video in which he shakes hands at a tailgating event for the University of Michigan Wolverines.

"Stop pretending to care about football if you don’t care about football," Ingraham snapped.

She also shared commentary from MAGA political commentator Charles Downs, who argued it was "pretty telling" that El-Sayed wore a black t-shirt.

"Abdul can’t even bother to put on a maize-and-blue V-neck to attend a Michigan tailgate," he wrote.

These comments failed to impress readers with a basic knowledge of El-Sayed's biography, which states, "[El-Sayed] proudly attended public schools where he captained his high school football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams.

"He graduated from the University of Michigan with the highest distinction," it notes, "and played on the Wolverines men’s lacrosse team."

Ingraham's post was repeatedly hit with a photo of a smiling El-Sayed in his high school uniform, clutching a football.

"You'd think a so called reporter would have looked that up," replied one X user. "Clowns."

Aaron Rupar, the independent journalist who recently incurred the wrath of the White House for reporting Natalie Harp had joined President Donald Trump on his trip to Ireland, echoed Ingraham's own famous words in response.

"Shut up and dribble," he wrote.

This isn't the first time conservatives' attempts to hurl a football attack at El-Sayed failed to score them a political touchdown.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tried to respond with a scathing remark on X after El-Sayed's comment that he was looking forward to the Wolverines getting the chance to "beat Ohio".

"What does it say that this [clown emoji] —who wants to represent Michigan—has never heard of Ohio State?" Cruz asked.

There was just one problem, as a former alum of President Barack Obama's administration was quick to point out: El-Sayed was echoing the words of a legendary former Michigan Wolverine who went on to play for the NFL.

“We start every meeting with Beat Ohio,” Will Campbell told the Michigan Daily in 2012.

Cruz was booed at a college football game in his home state this weekend by crowds who chanted, "Ted, you suck."