Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton told “CNN NewsNight” host Abby Phillip Wednesday that she did not get to “dictate” how he answered questions about President Donald Trump’s executive orders ordering the review of security clearances held by critics.
Trump issued executive orders directing the review of clearances held by former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Chris Krebs, former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor and Susman Godfrey LLP Wednesday. Phillip questioned Singleton about the orders during a panel discussion.
“I mean, look, politically, you know, my advice to the president on this one would be continue to focus on strengthening the economy,” Singleton said. “You got to figure out a way to bring down cost, keep doing what you’re doing as it pertains to immigration. We need to increase chip manufacturing within the United States. There are several political things that I think —”
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“Okay, Shermichael, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on,” Phillip said, interrupting Singleton, who continued with, “That’s what I focus on.”
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.4% year-over-year in March, below estimates of 2.6%, according to a Thursday release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Phillip and former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross pressed Singleton about the orders in a tense back-and-forth.
“Okay, okay, okay. All right, Shermichael. I get it. I get it. Yes, he should focus on the economy,” Phillip said. “Yeah, he should.”
“But what do you think about the fact that he’s targeting his political enemies using executive orders and telling his Justice Department —” Phillip said. “I just wouldn’t focus on this. I wouldn’t focus on this.”
Cross, whose MSNBC show featured racially-charged attacks on conservatives, particularly black conservatives, jumped in to badger Singleton.
“Well, you haven’t answered. Well, you have not answered —” Cross said, with Singleton responding, “Wait a minute. I did answer, just didn’t answer the way you wanted me to answer. You don’t get to dictate my comments to my response on this show.”
After an additional back-and-forth between Cross and Singleton, Phillip tried to step in.
“Hang on a second. Hang on a second. Tiffany? Tiffany, one second. I mean, listen, Shermichael, you’re a friend of the show. You’re my friend. Please answer the question,” Phillip said, with Singleton responding, “I answered the question the way I want —”
“I mean, I think that — no, no — but here is —” Phillip said, before Singleton cut her off by saying, “No one’s going to dictate the way I answer questions on the show. You may not like the way I answer the question, but I gave an answer and I don’t like that.”
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