All posts tagged "scott jennings"

'Bomb after bomb': CNN pundits rip into Trump's 'mean and small' WHCD speech

President Donald Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner speech drew sharp criticism from CNN pundits immediately after it finished.

On Friday night, Trump delivered his first speech as president at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and it took just over an hour. Shortly after it wrapped, CNN pundits tore into it, with conservatives even having trouble defending it.

"It just wasn't funny at all," political commentator Van Jones said. "It just wasn't funny. It was mean and small, but you could be mean and small and funny. This was mean and small and not funny."

CNN anchor Laura Coates said that Trump "shot himself in the foot" by missing an opportunity to speak to people. Jones agreed, saying, "He didn't talk about any American besides himself and his enemies" when he could have talked about people at home "and maybe make fun of their enemies."

Former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin said that "even from a performance standpoint" and compared to previous presidents, "he bombed. He objectively bombed." She also pointed out "missed opportunities."

Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings noted that Trump started the speech by denouncing political violence and ended it by saying he respected journalists and people in their profession.

"Now the middle of it is going to be controversial because some of the jokes landed and some of the jokes didn't," Jennings said, noting he liked Trump's jab at RFK Jr. during the speech. "Some of the jokes veered off into very, sort of, ornery insults, and that's not going to land for many audiences."

Jones made a joke of his own about Trump's speech, saying, "It was just bomb after bomb after bomb. It's like, we're not Iran. We're the American people. Quit bombing."

CNN's Kasie Hunt throws Scott Jennings' prediction about his old boss back in his face

CNN conservative pundit Scott Jennings was teased on-air Thursday for suggesting that Sen. Mitch McConnell would likely release a new statement sometime by Monday.

During a segment with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt, Jennings was asked if he had heard anything new from McConnell. Jennings claimed earlier this month that he had a 17-minute phone call with McConnell, whom he has known since he was a teenager and previously worked for. The MAGA commentator has faced growing criticism over his comments, including a network statement that the company would not vouch for Jennings' comments — and that they don't represent the organization's reporting.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about McConnell's absence since he went missing from Congress 39 days ago for undisclosed medical treatment. Two weeks ago, his team released an image of him with his wife Elaine Chao, but that hasn't quelled the skepticism and questions surrounding his unknown condition.

"I know he continues to do his rehab activities," Jennings said. "I know he's still following doctor's orders, and my assumption is sometime between now and Monday, they'll probably issue another update on how he's coming along. I don't know if they've made any decisions about whether he's going to be cleared to come back to work or not, but I would be surprised if we don't hear from them again by the weekend or by Monday."

Jennings argued that he thinks McConnell should "routinely" update his constituents on his health and "keep people apprised of the issues that he's looking in on, of the work that he's doing with his staff, and just be transparent about the things that he can do, even while he's convalescing and recovering."

"Truthfully, I think a little transparency on the front end here would have saved him a whole lot of grief," Jennings added. "But that didn't happen. And they are where they are now. But I think regular updates on things are good to do, and that'd be my advice."

Hunt commented, "I think last time that you and I spoke about this very topic, you said the exact same thing. You were like, 'Ask me on Monday.'"

Jennings joked that "the oracle of Kentucky" was right.

Fellow CNN panelist and commentator Xochitl Hinojosa had a direct question for Jennings: "At what point do you think that maybe he should resign from his seat?"

Jennings seemed surprised by the question.

"Give up his seat because he is not able to do the job of a U.S. senator," Hinojosa said.

"Well, he's not voting, Scott," Hunt added.

"And he's getting paid," Hinojosa said.

'Get him on the phone': Scott Jennings feels the heat on CNN over McConnell health claims

CNN anchor Kasie Hunt didn't hold back on Friday during a live segment about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), pushing conservative commentator Scott Jennings to call up the 84-year-old lawmaker.

Hunt and a panel of analysts were talking about the growing speculation over the longtime Republican senator's health as rumors were swirling around his unknown condition. She turned to Jennings, who claimed McConnell called him Tuesday and they spoke about a variety of topics.

CNN has since distanced itself from Jennings' claims and referred to him as a "commentator" and "not a full-time employee or journalist for the network." The network clarified this stance Friday in a statement, adding that Jennings' apparent conversation with McConnell was a personal chat, amid skepticism over the pundit's comments.

CNN political commentator Xochitl Hinojosa commented that, as other members of Congress have gone missing in recent months, raising further questions about why McConnell had not contacted Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who had requested an update on the GOP lawmaker's health, or any Democratic leaders.

"He hasn't called any Democrats," Hinojosa said. "He's talked to Scott Jennings for 20 minutes, but he can't find five minutes to call Chuck Schumer or Andy Beshear?"

Hunt, for the second time this week, suggested McConnell chat with CNN.

"Well, Scott Jennings, can you get him on the phone?" Hunt asked.

"For the record, I'm perfectly healthy. And I wouldn't call either Chuck Schumer or Andy Beshear either," Jennings quipped.

"You're also not a senator," Hinojosa responded sharply.

"I don't know why they would be at the top of his call list," Jennings said, adding that he suspected McConnell would make a public statement by Monday updating people on his health.

"So Scott, you can't get him on the phone right now?" Hunt pressed. "I mean, he could call in, in the next block. It's available if you want to."

Jennings joked with Hunt in response.

"I'll check in on it for you," Jennings said. "You know, I'm just I'm just a contributor here, but if you would like me to take on an additional role of booking producer. Absolutely. It's going to cost you."

CNN hangs Scott Jennings out to dry over his McConnell health claims

CNN made it clear it will not vouch for conservative pundit Scott Jennings' claims about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his health, according to reports on Friday.

CNN told The Daily Beast that Jennings, who was among several Republican insiders claiming they spoke with McConnell this week, was speaking only for himself and that his account does not represent the network's reporting.

"As a CNN Political Commentator, Scott Jennings is not a full-time employee or journalist for the network," a CNN spokesperson told The Beast. "His account of a personal conversation with Senator McConnell reflects his experience and is not CNN reporting."

The statement followed growing criticism that CNN had given Jennings a platform to make unverified claims about the 84-year-old senator, who has been hospitalized since June 14 and whose condition his office has not disclosed. Dispatch audio from that morning referenced an apparent cardiac arrest at an address known to be his, though CNN has not confirmed the details and his office has not named a cause.

Jennings, who previously ran political operations for McConnell's Senate campaigns, told CNN anchor Kasie Hunt on Tuesday that the senator called him that morning and they spoke for about 17 minutes.

"It was good to hear his voice," Jennings said. "Voice sounded strong and sounded like he was keeping up with the news to me."

By Thursday, appearing on Jake Tapper's show, Jennings said McConnell's staff told him the senator was planning to return to work, pushing back on rumors that McConnell is "brain dead" or a "vegetable."

"It sounded to me like somebody who was preparing at some point to go back to work," Jennings said. He added that he knew McConnell "was meeting with his staff today and getting some briefings on a few issues."

Ex-GOP strategist demands CNN fire Scott Jennings if McConnell story unravels

A former Republican operative on Friday warned CNN conservative pundit Scott Jennings that he could lose his job if his claims about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) prove false.

After video footage obtained by CNN showed an ambulance loading the Republican lawmaker inside — nearly a month after he was first hospitalized — Cheri Jacobus suggested that CNN should take action against Jennings, who claimed that he spoke to McConnell Tuesday for about 17 minutes.

"If @ScottJenningsKY is proven to have lied about having a nearly 20 minute phone conversation with McConnell, @cnn needs to fire him immediately," Jacobus wrote on X.

Jennings told CNN anchor Kasie Hunt that the senator, whom he has known since he was a teenager, was speaking to him on the phone during the apparent call. He described it as a "wide-ranging conversation" about Iran, and his "voice sounded strong."

"I wasn't really expecting him to call this morning," Jennings said. "So when I heard his voice today, and he was clearly keeping up with stuff."

Jennings said that McConnell told him that he was talking to Republican leaders. The update followed growing speculation over his health after he was hospitalized for more than three weeks following reports of cardiac arrest.

"It made me pretty happy," Jennings said.

"All the rumors about him being dead, or brain dead, or his body being hidden somewhere — I've seen all kinds of crazy things on the internet that are obviously not true because he picked up the phone and called me, and that was a good thing," Jennings added.

On Thursday, Jennings said he spoke with McConnell's team and urged them to speak up about the senator's health.

"My personal view is that they do need to actually have a little more transparency with the people of Kentucky," Jennings said. "I counseled him and his team as such."

If @ScottJenningsKY is proven to have lied about having a nearly 20 minute phone conversation with McConnell, @cnn needs to fire him immediately. https://t.co/3vUluZEu4I
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) July 10, 2026

Scott Jennings bursts out laughing in MAGA ally's face: 'I'm sorry you don't read much'

Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings laughed in the face of a fellow MAGA commentator and hurled insults at her during a debate.

Former Trump White House aide Caroline Sunshine interrupted a debate hosted by CNN anchor Abby Phillip on Thursday by admitting that she didn't know that conflicts between Iran and the U.S. have been going on for nearly five decades, as Jennings asserted.

The debate started over whether Congress should put more guardrails in place to check Trump's war powers in Iran. Jennings mocked the idea that guardrails should be in place so the U.S. can be "all rainbows and unicorns with the Iranians," considering that "they've been at war with us for 47 years."

That's when Sunshine chimed in by demanding why she didn't know about the 47 years of conflict, explaining, "The first time I've heard about the 47-year Iran war was like this year."

"I'm sorry you don't read much," Jennings responded before laughing in her face and shaking his head.

"We don't teach about the 47-year war with Iran in school," Sunshine continued. "Like, it's insulting to actual conflicts that we've been involved in."

Jennings kept scoffing at Sunshine as she spoke, adding, "It's an insult to your intelligence that you have no idea what the Iranians have done."

Although Sunshine and Jennings kept speaking over each other, Sunshine asked, "Why have our soldiers been over there?" and pressed Jennings to make it clear what the U.S. goals in Iran should be and what it should be prepared to lose.

"If we're going to keep going with this, what number of American troops are we willing to commit to keep going, and like, what's your number?" Sunshine asked. "Like, how many U.S. troops are you willing to expend to achieve your objectives and what amount of money?"

"What amount of money am I willing to expend to keep the American people safe from the worst regime in the world?" Jennings responded. "A fair amount."

Scott Jennings calls for 'more transparency' on McConnell's health after speaking with him

CNN conservative pundit Scott Jennings admitted Thursday that Republicans could do more to clarify Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) health status.

Jennings told CNN anchor Jake Tapper that McConnell, who he claims he spoke with earlier this week, has "always been pretty guarded about his own health issues."

Tapper asked the MAGA analyst if he had spoken with the longtime Republican lawmaker again since their reported 17-minute chat on Tuesday. Jennings, who is a Kentucky voter and has known McConnell since he was a teenager, said he had spoken with senior members of the senator's team.

"My personal view is that they do need to actually have a little more transparency with the people of Kentucky," Jennings said. "I counseled him and his team as such."

McConnell has been hospitalized for three weeks and it's unclear what his condition is.

"It pains me when I think he's hurting," Jennings added. "But I do think when you're in a position of public life like he is, some information is a good thing and that hasn't been out there. My belief is I think the Senate goes back in on Monday, I'd be shocked if they didn't put out an update on him by Monday about whether he's going to be able to go back to the Senate next week. And I should say, I don't know whether he is or he isn't. And I'm not sure whether he's made that decision or not."

Jennings denied that McConnell had died or was a "vegetable," despite speculation that he was.

"I've spoken with him and I've spoken to people who have been meeting with him over the last few days, so I think all that speculation could be put to rest," he said. "But I think it's frankly, I think it's up to them to tell the people of Kentucky when he's going back to work. I hope they do that by Monday. And I believe that they will."

Scott Jennings brutally fact-checked while claiming Trump lowered gas prices

Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings was quickly fact-checked as he tried to convince panelists that Trump has lowered gas prices.

During an appearance on a panel hosted by CNN anchor Abby Phillip, Jennings flatly stated that "gas is lower today than when he took office," referring to Trump.

"No, it's not," Phillip shot back. She had to repeat herself as Jennings continued trying to make the assertion.

Jennings was responding to comments by Democratic political strategist Neera Tanden, who was also a Biden White House advisor. Tanden pointed out that the price of oil and gas had gone up.

"What's the price of gas today, do you know?" Jennings asked. When Tanden gave estimates for a barrel of oil at $78 and gas at $4.30 per gallon, Jennings responded, "And what's the price of gas under Joe Biden?" and asked Tanden if she ever talked about oil and gas prices when Biden was president.

"Scott, that's actually not the question," Phillip intervened, which is when Jennings made his claim about gas now being lower since Trump took office. Meanwhile, Tanden said that gas was $3.20 a gallon under Biden.

"Gas is not lower today than when Trump took office, and it's not lower today than it was before Trump started the war" with Iran, Phillip said, continuing her point.

"So look, you can dismiss the gas thing, but it's a real thing that people are going to the gas pump, filling up their tank, and it's costing them 70 bucks," Phillip said.

MAGA commentator spills new details on McConnell call as rumors swirl

CNN conservative pundit Scott Jennings revealed new information about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his apparent phone call with the Republican leader on Tuesday.

Jennings said during a live CNN segment with anchor Kasie Hunt that McConnell, whom the analyst has known since he was 16, called him and they spoke for about 17 minutes. He described it as a "wide-ranging conversation" about Iran, and his "voice sounded strong."

"I wasn't really expecting him to call this morning," Jennings said. "So when I heard his voice today, and he was clearly keeping up with stuff."

McConnell told him that he was talking to Republican leaders. The update followed growing speculation over his health after he was hospitalized for more than three weeks following reports of cardiac arrest.

"It made me pretty happy," Jennings said.

CNN anchor laughs in Scott Jennings' face as his Trump Kennedy Center defense collapses

Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings embarrassingly lost his attempt to defend Trump as his name came off the Kennedy Center.

"Are we upset that the president of the United States took an interest in the Kennedy Center?" Jennings asked while on a CNN roundtable.

"A lot of people are upset about that, yes," CNN host Abby Phillip responded.

"Why?" Jennings followed up before taking a shot at Trump opponents. "They've never been able to stand the fact that Donald Trump won the White House the first time, and especially the second time."

Phillip quickly countered Jennings' argument by pointing out why people are really upset about Trump's attempted renaming.

"How about Congress established the Kennedy Center as a memorial for John F. Kennedy, and that it is illegal for him to slap his name on it?" Phillip said. "That is why people are upset about it."

Jennings tried to hold up his argument, though.

"But here's the deal, he took an interest in this," Jennings said, referring to Trump.

"What about the laws, Scott?" Phillip asked.

"What about it?" Jennings shot back.

Phillip laughed as soon as Jennings said that, but he kept on going.

"Who cares?" he insisted. "These haters stand out on the street screeching about a name."

"Wow, haters," journalist Cari Champion reacted. "Unbelievable."