CNN correspondent Isobel Yeung confronted Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), a hardcore Trump supporter in Congress and an outspoken voice about canceling foreign aid to Afghanistan, over the consequences of his actions.
Yeung witnessed a baby die in front of her while reporting on the effects of U.S. foreign aid cuts in that country — and told him about what she witnessed. But he didn't bat an eye as he repeatedly told her it wasn't his problem.
"Are you intentionally misleading the American public when it comes to inflating these figures so that you can get what you want?" Yeung asked Burchett.
"No, ma'am, I'm not," said Burchett. "As a matter of fact, $11 million is still a whole lot of money to the average American. If it's one penny going to the Taliban, they'll hate us for free."
"What would you say to — I mean, there are millions of Afghans who are going to be affected by this," said Yeung.
"I would say you're, you're going to have to make it on your own," said Burchett.
"Hundreds of clinics across the country have now closed down," said Yeung. "I literally watched a baby die from malnutrition. What would you say to these families who are living through desperate circumstances, devastated by the results of your actions?"
"I think it's horrific, but it's not due to my actions," said Burchett. "Ma'am, we don't have any more money. We're borrowing that money. And again—"
"But it is due to your actions," said Yeung. "I mean, you have been advocating for this last couple years—"
"No, ma'am. No, ma'am," said Burchett. "It's not our responsibility. We, we have Americans in the same, same position. We have Americans that are having trouble with childbirth. We have Americans going hungry. And you want us to borrow money and send it overseas."
"Is there not any moral responsibility, given that, you know, the U.S. did fight a 20-year war there?" said Yeung.
"No, ma'am," said Burchett. "My responsibility is to my own country and to the district I represent."
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