A Republican lawmaker who tried to dismiss former President Donald Trump's questionable responses at the debate was repeatedly cut off and checked by a CNN anchor who said he purposefully misrepresented the facts.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) grew increasingly testy as he fielded questions from Brianna Keilar that he tried to dismiss as mere hypotheticals — but which the CNN host insisted American voters had a right to know.
Tensions mounted when Keilar brought up Trump's refusal to say whether he wanted Ukraine, a U.S. ally, to win its war against Russia, the authoritarian nation that invaded its western neighbor in 2022.
"He's been consistent that he wants to end the war," Waltz insisted. "I don't think President Trump, and in many Americans—"
"He wouldn't say that...," Keilar cut off Waltz to reply.
When Waltz demanded she "roll the tape, Keilar spoke more slowly to help him understand the question.
"He wouldn't say he wants Ukraine to win the war," she said, "he said he wants the war to end."
Waltz complained he hadn't been allowed to finish his response and praised Trump for laying out how he would engage with both sides to bring the conflict to a close.
ALSO READ: Is Trump's dementia the real reason behind his flip-flopping?
This brought Keilar to Trump's claim — which a federal prosecutor Wednesday noted would violate federal law — that he would negotiate the war's end before reclaiming the White House and the possibility that Waltz might be appointed the former president's Defense secretary.
"That's not legal," Keilar said. "Would you personally commit to not negotiating if you were in that position?"
Waltz asserted Trump could easily go to the Kremlin and present a case to President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. could and would cripple the Russian economy if necessary and tried to claim the question was a pointless hypothetical.
Keilar then referenced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned in 2018, over reports that he discussed Russian sanctions with a Russian official before Trump took office.
"It wasn't hypothetical in that transition," a deadpan Keilar replied. "Which is why I'm asking you."
The conversation grew more heated when Keilar raised the subject of a national abortion ban and Trump's refusal to commit to a veto despite running mate Sen. J.D. Vance publicly vowing he would.
Waltz again brought up his go-to word then pivoted to attack Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee.
"The president doesn't want to back himself into a hypothetical position," Waltz said. "Harris also wouldn't denounce late-term abortion up to the ninth month."
Keilar felt called upon to provide context, namely that late-term terminations account for less than 1 percent of abortions and often involve a threat to the mother's life, medical conditions that render it impossible for a fetus to survive outside the womb, and cases of rape or incest.
"One percent of millions is still a large number," Waltz snapped.
He then spoke over Keilar to repeat a Charlie Kirk talking point about botched abortions in Minnesota and to argue ABC News moderators were actively biased against Trump.
"Sir, you know that's not," Keilar said with a raised eyebrow and a smile. "You know that's not how it happens."
Watch the video below or click here.
