'Oof': Laughter as Trump ally gets 'burned' live on CNN while defending new hire

CNN commentator Scott Jennings tried to throw a lifeline to President Donald Trump’s new White House press secretary on Tuesday night. Fellow Republican Ana Navarro used the moment to take a shot at him instead.

On “NewsNight,” host Abby Phillip asked Jennings what he thought of Katie Zacharia’s first briefing. White House officials themselves had described her performance as “awkward” and “stilted.”

“Everybody’s had, uh, tough days in whatever job they’ve had,” Jennings said. “She might have had one today, but there'll be better days.”

Navarro advised Zacharia against signing a long-term lease and asked the panel whether she would outlast Anthony Scaramucci, who famously lasted 11 days as Trump’s communications director in 2017.

Then she turned to Jennings.

“Well, Scott, you might get another shot at the apple. You never know,” Navarro said.

Jennings tried to flip it back on her, saying she was “more interested in it” than he was.

“On what?” Navarro shot back. “You leaving the panel? Maybe.”

The table broke into laughter.

“It would make your job easier, wouldn’t it?” Jennings shot back.

The exchange spread quickly online.

“Now that’s how you deliver a burn. Oof. The delivery from @ananavarro,” wrote journalist Mehdi Hasan.

“Meta watch,” posted journalist Michael McGough.