Republican senator John Kennedy was criticized as “tone deaf” after making a political dig at a journalist whereas reporting on a terrorist assault in his residence state, Louisiana.
The controversial line got here as he and different officers answered questions on Wednesday morning’s assault, which left at the least 15 useless New Orleans‘iconic Bourbon Street. A 42-year-old military veteran named Shamsud-Din Jabbar was named because the suspect, killed by officers who opened hearth on the scene.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s information convention, a reporter advised Kennedy that NBC News was “over right here on the precise.” The statement was meant to assist the 72-year-old determine every reporter’s affiliation as he ready to reply a query at a day information convention.
That prompted the Republican to comment, “Oh, that’s (an) uncommon place.” He waved his palms to the precise, apparently suggesting that NBC is a left-leaning channel.
This appeared to confuse the reporter who had simply assisted Kennedy. She shouted, “I do not perceive.” Kennedy replied, “You would not.” Then he received on the rostrum.
Democrats had been fast to criticize Kennedy, who has an extended historical past of success strange comments to get consideration, for making such an announcement simply hours after dozens of his constituents had been mowed down within the streets whereas celebrating the New Year.
“Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana is a nugatory piece of shit who says all of the fallacious issues on the fallacious occasions and for all of the fallacious causes,” wrote political pundit Keith Olbermann on X. “What a tone deaf, egocentric, senile, son of a bitch.”
The timing of Kennedy’s theatrics additionally angered some on the precise. The “Republicans Against Trump” account on X wrote to its 780,000 followers that Kennedy was a “shame” for doing the tragedy upon him.
That sentiment was echoed elsewhere, but it surely wasn’t simply in regards to the senator’s insult to a reporter.
A disheveled-looking Kennedy additionally sipped from two crimson cups, insulated with paper napkins, halfway by way of the information convention. He additionally vowed to “increase new hell” and “go after the federal authorities chargeable for telling us what occurred as in the event that they stole Christmas” if he wasn’t happy with the FBI’s findings, although a slew of knowledge has already been launched about Jabbar and his potential motive.
Senator John Kennedy was seen sipping from a crimson cup throughout Wednesday’s press convention. /WDSU
The lawmaker additionally attacked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, suggesting he would not respect the Biden administration official who will quickly get replaced by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s choose for the job.
“I talked to the Secretary of Homeland Security a while in the past, and I advised him that, with all of the respect I may musterthat we count on to place the complete power and assets of the federal authorities behind this investigation.”
Later, throughout an interview with Fox News, Kennedy didn’t deny that there could also be a risk to different main American cities from terrorist teams. When host Aishah Hasnie requested him whether or not residents needs to be afraid of a subsequent assault, Kennedy merely replied: “I can not reply that, I can, however I will not.”
Despite the pushback, there have been some followers of Kennedy’s antics.
Conservative political commentator Kimberly Klacik prompt that the senator had rightly “substituted” FBI Special Agent Alethea Duncan for the press convention, regardless of providing extra commentary on the incident than particulars.
Klacik wrote that the press convention was “undoubtedly one of many worst” he has witnessed, however positioned the blame on the feds.
“I can barely take notes,” he wrote. “They’re all over the place.”
