Stephen Miller Irked By Fox News’s Jacqui Heinrich: ‘Either I Can Answer Or I Can’t…’

White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller tussled with Fox News’s Jacqui Heinrich on Friday over the Trump administration memo ordering a freeze in federal spending on loans and grants. The White House said the freeze, initiated by President Donald Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, was meant to give the administration time to assess whether the spending aligned with Trump’s policies.

A federal judge blocked the freeze on Wednesday, and the OMB rescinded the memo shortly afterward. In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sowed confusion by announcing, “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo.”

Heinrich, who is a Fox News White House correspondent, guest-hosted Friday’s edition of The Story, where she asked Miller to clarify matters

“Can you clear up whether the phrase is in effect?” she asked. “Because I obviously saw the press secretary say, ‘Memo rescinded, but the orders are still in place, the freeze is still in effect.’ That’s evidently not how [the Department of Justice] is seeing it. They believe that the breaks have been pumped on this whole thing because of the administrative stay in D.C., and now, potentially a temporary restraining order coming out of Rhode Island and the other case with 22 state attorneys general. So, is money for the programs impacted by the president’s [executive orders] currently going out the door while the court case plays out?”

Her question led to this exchange:

MILLER: The president issued executive orders pausing funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion, critical race theory, radical transgender ideology, sex changes–

HEINRICH: I understand that– because the judge said that it had to be stopped.

MILLER: I’m answering–

[CROSSTALK]

MILLER: Either I can answer the question or I can’t.

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

HEINRICH: I’m trying to get clarity because the judge said Friday–

MILLER: I’m going to– I’m going to answer your question, exactly.

HEINRICH: Ok.

MILLER: The president paused funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion, radical gender ideology, critical race theory, sex changes for minors, foreign aid, as well as certain Green New Deal projects. Also, the resettlement of illegal aliens and the funding to NGOs that were settling illegal aliens. Those are all discretionary agency spending projects that are not required by law, that are not required by Congress.

Watch above via Fox News.