‘Why would I trust you?’ 5 Scott Jennings takedowns of CNN panelists since Trump returned to White House

Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term  om Jan. 20, Republican strategist Scott Jennings has delivered some noteworthy smackdowns while on CNN.

Jennings has had multiple viral moments, leading Fox News host Greg Gutfeld to jokingly declare in February that CNN had created a new viral video genre centered around the former George W Bush administration official. Here are five of the times he flustered panelists on CNN.

Feb. 4: Jennings Reminds Washington Post Columnist Buyouts Are “Voluntary”

Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin spent a fair bit of time complaining about voluntary buyouts offered to federal employees in the first days of the Trump administration during the Feb. 4 episode of “CNN NewsNight,” even claiming a Democratic administration would seek to purge Republicans from the federal workforce.

WATCH:

“A. No Democrat’s going to shrink the government. And B. They’re not forcing anyone out. These are voluntary buyouts. They’re voluntary. And the CIA is voluntary,” Jennings said.

After Rogin constantly interrupted Jennings during the segment, claiming the buyout offer was “terrorizing” bureaucrats, Jennings responded.

“It’s not terrorizing to get an offer,” Jennings explained.

Feb. 11: Jennings Calls Out CNN Panelist Claiming Corruption

When CNN contributor Bakari Sellars accused White House Senior Advisor Elon Musk of corruption during the Feb. 11 episode of “CNN NewsNight,” Jennings didn’t hesitate to call him out.

WATCH:

“You guys are way out over your skis with accusations and innuendo,” Jennings said. “You have no way — I mean, what you’re essentially alleging would be the biggest corruption in any of our lifetimes. You have no way in the world of making those accusations in a credible way, but yet you’re out here doing it.”

“You just said that Elon Musk is working at the behest of the president in what would amount to the biggest corruption scheme to enrich himself that we’ve ever seen,” Jennings added later.

Feb. 24: Jennings Reminds A CNN Panel Who Federal Workers Work For

After Elon Musk sent an email to federal employees asking them to list accomplishments for the past week, a CNN panel claimed the email was “abusive” during the Feb. 24 episode of “CNN NewsNight.”

WATCH:

“It’s called having a boss in the private sector,” Jennings told co-panelist Tara Setmayer, who said, “From someone who’s not your boss?”

“Well, the White House is every federal worker’s boss, that’s number one,” Jennings said as Setmayer and “CNN NewsNight” host Abby Phillip tried to talk over him, adding, “The test was, are you even paying attention to your email? Are you even at your terminal?”

March 6: Scott Jennings Confronts Dem Rep With Biden’s Inflation Track Record

During the March 6 episode of “CNN NewsNight,” Democratic Rep. Marilyn Strickland of Washington tried to tout job numbers after criticizing President Donald Trump over increased egg prices.in the wake of a bird flu epidemic.

WATCH:

“I just want to know why we should trust Democrats who skyrocketed inflation for the last — what — why would I trust you? Why would I trust you?” Jennings asked Strickland about prices.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit a four-decade high of 9% in June 2022, after then-President Joe Biden signed multiple spending initiatives into law, including the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, despite warnings that it could cause inflation to go up. While Biden was in office, prices shot up by over 20%.

March 18: Jennings Reminds Biden Admin Official Who Caused The Border Crisis

During the March 18 episode of “CNN NewsNight,” Jennings confronted former Biden administration official Neera Tanden about how members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua were allowed into the United States.

WATCH:

“Your administration let them all in. We’re trying to get rid of them. I totally get why you’re upset,” Jennings said days after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to speed up the deportation of gang members on March 15.

Jennings then cut Tanden off when she tried to argue that deportations should be limited to “criminals.”

“They’re illegal immigrants. They are criminals,” Jennings said.

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