Fox’s Maria Bartiromo Calls Out Steve Scalise for Dodging in Testy Interview: ‘You’re Not Answering Any Questions!’

Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo grilled Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) on Tuesday over how he would handle U.S. government military aid to Israel and Ukraine if elected House speaker, at one point accusing the Louisiana Republican of dodging her questions.

“On a normal process, we’re going to get back to that day one as well when I’m elected speaker,” Scalise said to Bartiromo, arguing that the House needs to get back to business after a GOP-led rebellion ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last week. Scalise is facing off with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to replace McCarthy as speaker.

“Well, I understand. But the truth is, is with all due respect, Congressman, you’re not answering any questions,” Bartiromo shot back.

“Do you endorse sending money to Israel in an emergency package? Do you endorse sending the $24 billion that President Biden is asking to Ukraine? Are you going to manage these bills in a lower number?” Bartiromo, a sharp critic of aid to Ukraine, demanded.

“Maria, I just answered you. As you asked me, I just told you I spoke with Ambassador Dermer yesterday about very specific things that Israel needs,” Scalise replied, adding:

Some, by the way, are in what’s called the SFOPs bill, state foreign ops bill that we just passed out of the House, the defense appropriations bill that we just passed out of the House. That’s real money in the pieces of legislation we passed out of the House ready to go. Iron Dome funding, munitions, real things that we’ve been talking about.

And, obviously we need to talk about even more specific things you want to get the details against and the details with you. But Congress can’t do any of that while we’re not functioning without a speaker. We need to get a speaker. I’ve been having those conversations in detail. But we need a speaker to make that happen. We have legislation ready to go to make that happen. We’ve got to get this done. As members of Congress, we got to do it Wednesday.

Additional U.S. military aid to Ukraine has become a major point of contention among Republicans as members like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and others on the MAGA right are vehemently opposed to additional U.S. help for Ukraine to fend off the brutal Russian invasion.

Watch the full clip above via Fox Business.