Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany's upcoming guest hosting stint on Fox News has sparked criticism from CNN's Jake Tapper, who called her out for being one of the "biggest spreaders" of post-election lies.
McEnany will be filling in for Tucker Carlson in the 8 p.m. time slot, which has been the subject of controversy since Carlson was ousted from the network last week.
Tapper took to Twitter to remind the public of McEnany's history of spreading falsehoods and untruths during her time as Press Secretary for the Trump administration.
He shared a tweet from December 2020 in which McEnany falsely claimed that the chances of then-candidate Joe Biden "winning Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Wisconsin independently" after former President Donald Trump's early lead were "less than one in a quadrillion."
Tapper said:
"Fox's latest host for the 8 p.m. slot (next week, she says) is one of the biggest spreaders of the post-election lies that just cost the network $787.5 million."
You can see Tapper's response below.
\u201cFox's latest host for the 8 p.m. slot (next week, she says) is one of the biggest spreaders of the post-election lies that just cost the network $787.5 million\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
During her time in the Trump administration, McEnany was known for her staunch defense of the then-president, despite making a promise during her first briefing never to lie.
Her appointment as a guest host on Fox News has drawn criticism from those who argue that she played a significant role in spreading misinformation in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
\u201c@jaketapper Fox News is in a downward spiral and out of control. They're just throwing "hosts" against the wall to see if one sticks.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper Fox is putting Kaylee in Tucker's spot...okey dokey. More BidenHarris bashing upcoming.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper Scraping the bottom of the barrel filling Tucker\u2019s spot.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper @OliviaTroye When it hurts enough FOX will ditch these people. Until then it's going to be the SOS.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper "One of the biggest spreaders" \nNice choice of words considering her microphone during covid.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper @MattGertz They\u2019re getting a class act!\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper @BillKristol The settlement Fox reached was obviously just seen as a cost of doing business. They haven\u2019t changed at all.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
\u201c@jaketapper @rulajebreal Don\u2019t think Fox has atoned yet.\u201d— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1683235314
McEnany's guest hosting gig follows those of Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones, who have previously filled in for Carlson. In a preview of her temporary tenure, McEnany promised a "great week" on the show.
The controversy surrounding Carlson's departure from the network has left many wondering what the future holds for the 8 p.m. time slot. Some have speculated that Carlson may be headed to a rival network, while others have suggested that Fox News may be looking to shake up its prime-time lineup in the wake of his departure.
Regardless of what the future holds, McEnany's appointment has sparked renewed debate about the role that Fox News played in spreading misinformation in the aftermath of the 2020 election. As Tapper's tweet reminds us, those who spread lies and falsehoods must be held accountable for their actions, particularly when they hold positions of power and influence.
