Scott Jennings speaking with attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition's 2026 Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Courtesy of Gage Skidmore via Flickr)
Scott Jennings was subjected to stern rebuke on Sunday after a conspiracy theorist with close ties to President Donald Trump threatened to sue his CNN colleague — and repeatedly called her the c-word.
Journalist Mehdi Hasan demanded Jennings speak out after Laura Loomer lobbed her profane attack at CNN anchor Abby Phillip late Saturday night.
"You got very upset on behalf of Natalie Harp when [Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA)] simply mentioned her name in a speech," Hasan wrote on X. "Here is a top adviser to Trump calling your colleague...the c-word. Will you call her out? Condemn her? Or are you scared?"
Hasan shared Loomer's post to verify his claim.
Loomer appeared to be responding to Phillip's commentary on CNN Saturday night in which the anchor discussed a headline-making photograph taken at the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 in New York City.
The photo, in which Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) can be seen smiling next to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has been used by the right to suggest the pair disrespected victims' families.
A CNN video analysis makes a strong case for the photo having been taken out of context, comparing it to video of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani smiling widely at Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who also grins.
Phillip added to this context on Saturday with a reference to the 2024 ceremony at Ground Zero.
"Don't forget the president, Donald Trump, brought Laura Loomer to the 9/11 memorial," Phillip said. "She is a 9/11 conspiracy theorist."
Loomer — who has publicly claimed Sept. 11 to be an "inside job" — responded on X.
"I actually honor the victims of 9/11 EVERYDAY by exposing the death cult that murdered 3,000 Americans 25 years ago," Loomer wrote on X. "I am so sick of this lying c--- repeating the same lie over and over again. I should probably just sue her."
Loomer also replied to Hasan's call for a response from Jennings by attacking the journalist's religion and claiming she was not an adviser to Trump, as he had written.
"I do not work for President Trump," Loomer replied to Hasan. "Stop lying! Lying is the only thing you Muslims know how to do."
While Loomer holds no official title in Trump's administration, she has offered advice to the president, which he has taken, PBS reported in 2025.
"A right-wing political activist who's spread conspiracy theories and used hate speech has become a central figure in the hirings and firings of Trump administration staffers," the report stated.
"Loomer has successfully lobbied to remove aides from several key government roles, including the National Security Council."
Jennings did not immediately reply to Hasan's demand for comment.