‘But You’re the Spokeswoman!’ CNN’s Kasie Hunt Exasperated by State Department Official Dodging Questions
CNN’s Kasie Hunt and State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce clashed on Monday’s edition of The Arena, where Bruce dodged multiple questions from the host.
President Donald Trump and his administration have come under fire for deporting more than 230 undocumented immigrants to El Salvador, where they are currently incarcerated without due process. The administration insists that all the imprisoned men are gang members. A 60 Minutes investigation found that at least 75% of them have no criminal record.
One of those men is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom a federal judge ordered returned to the U.S. The Supreme Court upheld that ruling, but Trump is defying it by alleging that the decision is up to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whose government is being paid $6 million to imprison Abrego Garcia and others.
On The Arena, Hunt asked Bruce whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes the men are entitled to due process.
“Does the secretary believe that immigrants who are deported to these other countries are entitled to due process under the Constitution?” the host asked.
“Well, there’s there’s always, of course, due process,” Bruce claimed. “These are individuals who have either violated our laws or their visas have been removed.”
“Well, the president seemed to question that over the weekend,” Hunt said, alluding to comments Trump made saying that he doesn’t know if his job is to uphold the Constitution. Hunt went on to ask whether Bruce’s boss has spoken with Bukele, prompting this exchange:
HUNT: Has Marco Rubio spoken recently with Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador?”
BRUCE: Well, I’m not going to speak to which world leaders the secretary speaks to. He speaks to multiple world leaders.
HUNT: Is he still working on the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia?
BRUCE: I’m not going to speak to his–
HUNT: Is he still working on the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia? Is he still working on the case?
BRUCE: I’m not going to speak to his work. I’m not gonna– I’m not gonna speak to the nature of the work that he does every day in its details. Clearly, this has been an issue–
HUNT: But you’re the spokeswoman for the State Department! I mean, with all due respect, like–
BRUCE: Yes, but that doesn’t mean that– just just a minute. That doesn’t mean I’m the gossiper for the State Department.
HUNT: I’m not asking you to gossip. I’m asking you for–
BRUCE: I’m telling you the nature of what it is that I can speak to. And it does not include the day-to-day operations or choices the secretary of State makes. That’s not gonna happen. We clearly know this is at the forefront for the State Department and the forefront for the secretary of State. But you’re not going to get the nature of the details of negotiations, diplomacy, or the decisions the secretary makes during his day.
Watch above via CNN.