A conservative panelist was kicked off the set of a CNN show after a wild exchange with a liberal commentator about Trump’s heated rally in New York City.
Ryan Gidursky, author and founder of the PAC 1776 Project, was responding to left-wing British commentator and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan on Abby Phillip’s show.
After the rhetoric used at Madison Square Garden by Trump and speakers Tucker Carlson and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, many were comparing the rally to a Nazi rally as the pair became heated.
Hasan said: “My problem, I understand, is that no one wants to be called Nazis, it’s very incendiary.” But if you don’t want to be called Nazis, stop doing…
Gidursky interrupted, noting that Hasan, who has often spoken out against Israel, “has been called an anti-Semitic more than anyone else at this table.”
A conservative panelist was kicked off the set of a CNN show after a wild exchange with a liberal commentator about Trump’s heated rally in New York City.
Ryan Gidursky, author and founder of the PAC 1776 Project, was responding to left-wing British commentator and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan (pictured) on Abby Phillip’s show.
“Yes, for you,” Hasan replied, which Gidursky denied, to which Hasan replied, “Okay.”
Hasan then signaled that he supported the Palestinians, when Gidursky said: “Well, I hope his pager doesn’t ring.”
Gidursky appears to be referencing Hezbollah – the Iranian Islamist paramilitary group and terrorist organization – which was decimated when the Israelis detonated their pagers.
Hasan looked at Phillip and then asked, ‘Did you say I should die? You just said they should kill me.
“No, no, I didn’t say that,” Gidursky responded.
He then turned to Phillip and asked, ‘Did your guest just say they should kill me on live TV?’
So there appears to be some debate about whether Gidursky is confusing Hezbollah with Hamas, the terrorist group and political organization that rules Palestine.
Phillip admonishes Gidursky as he tries to apologize, saying, “That’s disgusting.”
Gidursky said, “Well, I hope your pager doesn’t ring” after Hasan spoke of being a supporter of Palestinian rights.
Hasan then accuses CNN of having someone on the air “saying that the Muslim should be blown up.”
‘Then I apologize. I focused on Hamas, I apologize,” Gidursky said.
“I don’t support Hamas, I support Palestinian rights,” Hasan responds. “The good thing is that Rudy Giuliani said this yesterday, so you are a great guest to be here and defend Rudy Giuliani’s racism. This is what we are in now, this is America in 2024.”
After Gidursky tries to say that he didn’t want Hasan to be killed, Hasan continues.
‘Forget racism, it should die. What does pager mean? What did you mean by pager? At least have the courage to support your racist comment.
At one point, Phillip can be heard saying quietly, “Ryan, stop talking.”
“Don’t call us Nazis, threaten the dark man like he’s a terrorist and kill him,” Hasan growled.
Phillip then tries to call for calm after the exchange was further escalated by former Biden-Harris campaign staffer Ashley Allison, who rejected Gidursky’s apology.
When they returned from the break, Phillip apologized to Hasan and the spectators watching.
Neither Hasan nor Gidursky returned to the show for the rest of the hour.
“We have a lot of heated conversations on this show, but one of the things I don’t appreciate is when we cross the line,” he said.
“I apologize,” Gidursky said.
“I appreciate the apology, but I don’t want a conditional apology for saying something that is not civil at all.”
Gidursky then says: “I misheard what we had said, I thought Hamas had said.”
Beside himself, Hasan scoffs: ‘Yes, I went on CNN and said I support Hamas, what kind of idiots do you take us for?’ It’s ridiculous to say it.
Phillip then goes for the break, but not before saying again that Gidursky had gone “too far.”
When they returned from the break, Phillip apologized to Hasan and the spectators watching.
‘I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at this table. It was completely unacceptable. When we begin this discussion, you will see that Ryan is not at the table. There is a line that was crossed there and it is not acceptable to me. “This is not acceptable to us at this network.”
When reached for comment, a CNN spokesperson said Gidursky was no longer welcome at the network.
Neither Hasan nor Gidursky returned to the show for the rest of the hour.
When reached for comment, a CNN spokesperson said Gidursky was no longer welcome at the network.
‘There is no place for racism or intolerance on CNN or on our air. “Our goal is to foster thoughtful conversations and debates, even among people who deeply disagree with each other, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding,” Shimrit Sheetrit told DailyMail.com in a statement.
But we will not allow guests to be degraded or the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcome back on our network.
DailyMail.com has contacted 1776 Project PAC and Hasan for comment.