Fox News host Harris Faulkner appeared non-plussed in the wake of a zinger from liberal strategist Marjorie Clifton. The Democratic guest referenced former Republican President Donald Trump's suggestion last year that people could use disinfectants like bleach in order to stay bodily safe from the virus during the pandemic.
Trump wasn't referring to using bleach to clean the house though.
The exchange, which you can see below, happened during a segment on the channel's The Faulkner Focus in which Faulkner and colleague Guy Benson peppered Clifton with questions about the Center for Disease Control's and Democratic President Joe Biden's supposed mishandling of the pandemic.
During the segment, Faulkner and Benson focused heavily on the CDC's recent announcement that fully vaccinated people can feel free to stop wearing masks in public places.
Faulkner argued the CDC was sending mixed messages, not being sufficiently transparent with the American people about the rules and the organization and the Biden Administration should simply tell the American people "the science" behind pandemic best practices.
But Faulkner's own network has been rife with anti-mask, anti-vaccine, and virus-denial misinformation since the pandemic began. And when it comes to "the science," Fox News, conservative politicians and the Trump Administration have consistently undermined or denied it any time the scientific and medical community have tried to communicate it.
And Clifton, for one, could barely contain her laughter at the absurdity. When Faulkner emphatically opined the Biden Administration should "tell us the truth" with "more facts, less policy," Clifton could take no more.
She shot back:
"Like drinking bleach?"
Faulkner seemed deeply offended by the comment, responding simply, "not funny."
In response, Clifton simply shook her head while Benson claimed the Biden Administration is anti-science.
On Twitter, people cheered Clifton's lack of patience for nonsense.
It was hilarious. They spent the entire segment acting as though their news channel hasn't been happily taking an anti-mask anti-vaccination stance for a year while at the same time hyping malaria medication.— mr. G (and the good trouble). (@mr. G (and the good trouble).) 1621330352
THIS is awesome b/c it shows the hypocrisy of Fox, the lack of truth at Fox & the total lack of humor of Fox. Go Marjorie Clifton! \n\n\u2018Not Funny\u2019: Fox News Anchor Growls at Guest Who Mentions Trump\u2019s Bleach B.S. https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-anchor-harris-faulkner-growls-when-guest-mentions-trumps-bleach-bullshit-not-funny?source=twitter&via=desktop\u00a0\u2026 via @thedailybeast— Laura McGinnis (@Laura McGinnis) 1621278865
On fox news:\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ve got to tell us the truth," the Fox News anchor added. \u201cIt\u2019s more facts, less policy.\u201d\n\n\u201cLike drinking bleach?\u201d a laughing Clifton interjected\n\nHahahahahahahahaha— Daniel Pearsall (@Daniel Pearsall) 1621348453
Marjorie Clifton thank you for pointing out the hypocrisy on @FoxNews! https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-anchor-harris-faulkner-growls-when-guest-mentions-trumps-bleach-bullshit-not-funny?source=articles&via=rss\u00a0\u2026— Carrie (@Carrie) 1621284160
You all are cracking me up. Your latest interview with Marjorie Clifton talking about how we need to listen to the science, while FOX and Trump claimed COVID is a hoax. Then claiming COVID is real and Trump suggested injecting bleach. Fox has done gone crazy!— Satacy (@Satacy) 1621347392
@MarjorieClifton you are my newest hero! How did you hold in that laugh? FOX asking for science?https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/fox-news-host-harris-faulkner-donald-trump-joke-not-funny-081601282.html\u00a0\u2026— Shawna Martin (@Shawna Martin) 1621371979
Fox never even reported Trump's bleach comment unless it was to say he was joking as usual. So why get upset now when it's brought up? Fox has given more disinformation on the virus than the CDC. They have cost people their lives.— JR (@JR) 1621335046
Ha! My family says my poker face is broken!— Marjorie Clifton (@Marjorie Clifton) 1621284513
I love how @MarjorieClifton can barely stop from bursting out laughing in this example of Fox News ridiculousnesshttps://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1394361961274613761\u00a0\u2026— Cy Tabari (@Cy Tabari) 1621281298
L\nO\nLhttps://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1394361961274613761\u00a0\u2026— Glenda Ms. Jackson if Ya Nasty (@Glenda Ms. Jackson if Ya Nasty) 1621277990
Interesting to see Fox News now advocate for a science-based approach to the pandemic. Every day is full of surprises.
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