Tensions flared during the Thursday, January 2 broadcast of Fox News Channel’s The Five as liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov found herself sharply criticized by conservative co-host Judge Jeanine Pirro. The debate centered on who had said what, with Tarlov attempting to use the devastating attacks in New Orleans to discredit President-elect Donald Trump.
The primary point of contention was President Joe Biden’s brief and somewhat awkward press statement on the attack, in which he struggled to deliver a three-minute message off a teleprompter. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump seized the moment to speak out about the alarming crime situation in the U.S. and the issues surrounding the open border.
Tarlov, reacting to President Biden’s statement on the horrific New Year’s attack that left 15 dead and dozens injured, said, “When you say, ‘I’m embarrassed watching Joe Biden,’ I’m not embarrassed seeing someone stand up there and saying, ‘Let’s wait for some facts here,’ because Donald Trump went out there and he said…”
Interrupting, Judge Jeanine snapped about what she saw Biden as having said, telling her lefty co-host, “No, he assured Americans all was well.” Responding, Tarlov shot back, “No, listen to all of the comments that he made and the statements that said we need to make sure we have the right facts, and the right facts were that the guy in New Orleans was an American. He wasn’t an illegal.” Pirro pushed back on Tarlov’s claims, saying, “No one’s saying he was.” Tarlov expressed frustration, stating that Republicans highlighting illegal immigration issues are problematic., saying, “That’s not true! There have been Republicans who have been on TV today talking about how this was an open border problem.”
Pirro responded fiercely by noting the huge crime problem illegal immigration is causing in New York City, telling Tarlov, “Seventy-five percent of the arrests in New York City are illegals! Let’s stop playing games!” But instead of responding to that point, Tarlov snapped, “Move the goalposts! Move them as far as you want. Sugar Bowl-wide! Whatever. Why are you accused?”
WATCH:
Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov threw down with fellow co-host Jeanine Pirro after Pirro claimed nobody was saying the New Orleans terrorist was an illegal immigrant. pic.twitter.com/ck3CbayTBx
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 3, 2025
In his post about the matter of illegal immigration and criminality on Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump said, “When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.”
