'You're lying to people!' Fed-up CNN guest twice cuts off GOP strategist in tense exchange
A Republican strategist twice clashed with a supporter of Kamala Harris in the opening minutes of CNN's "NewsNight" on Tuesday night, with the two trading barbs over the latter's interruption.
The exchange happened during a discussion on Vice President Kamala Harris' closing argument speech and came between Scott Jennings, a senior CNN political commentator who served as special assistant to former President George W. Bush, and Leigh McGowan, a social media influencer who uses the handle PoliticsGirl.
Jennings told host Abby Phillip he was "taken aback" by what he called an "absolute full-on attack" on Donald Trump.
"We've heard it all before. It sounded a little frantic to me to be honest, this close to the end of the election," he said.
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As Jennings tried to insist Harris pushed a "lie" that Trump plans to implement Project 2025 — "it's not his agenda, he has his own" — McGowan butted in.
"No, it's agenda 47, which is exactly the same as Project 2025," she said. "And you can say that as many times as you want, Scott, but it's not true."
As Jennings sardonically put his head on his chin, McGowan fired back, "That's a very smug way to look at me my friend."
As he tried to continue his thought, McGowan continued heaping praise on Harris, citing her massive crowd as evidence Harris' message is landing that she'll be a president for everyone — not just people she likes. She noted it presented a stark contrast to Trump's New York City rally, which featured a bevy of racist and sexist comments and jokes.
As Jennings prepared to respond to McGowan, Phillip jumped in — to the chagrin of Jennings — and played a clip of Trump and Harris trading attacks.
Jennings took the opportunity to fire back at McGowan.
"I was trying to articulate earlier before I was interrupted that I don't think the policy argument that she's making is going to be fully persuasive about that," he said.
Jennings then attacked Harris' comment that politicians need to take immigration seriously, saying: "Well the building over your shoulder is where you work. Were you taking it seriously for the first 3 1/2 years?"
A fed-up McGowan interjected again, taking a shot at Jennings' earlier comment as she did so.
"Excuse me Scott, I'm going to interrupt you again because you're lying to people" she chided. "It's nuts to say that she isn't running on any policies. She's only running on anti-Donald Trump. That's crazy!"
Watch the clip below or at this link.