Tensions flared during a recent Fox News interview when anchor Shannon Bream confronted Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) about past comments criticizing former President Donald Trump. The explosive exchange underscored Stefanik’s transformation from a Trump skeptic to one of his staunchest defenders on Capitol Hill.
The controversy stems from a 2022 New York Times report which resurfaced old messages from Stefanik allegedly calling Trump a “whack job” and saying he was “too awful and ridiculous to be taken seriously” back in 2016. When Bream brought up these past remarks during their interview, Stefanik immediately went on the offensive. “Well Shannon, it’s a disgrace that you would quote The New York Times with nameless, faceless false sources,” she fired back. “But, they are quoting your friends, so I’m giving you a chance to respond to that.”
Yikes! Elise Stefanik gets big mad at Fox News Sunday's Shannon Bream when Bream asks her about calling Trump a "whack job" and "insulting to women" during the 2016 cycle: "Well Shannon, it's a disgrace that you would quote the New York Times with nameless, faceless–"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2024
"They're… pic.twitter.com/1tf3s6ebOy
Bream quickly corrected her, stating “But they’re quoting you, Congresswoman.” Stefanik doubled down, claiming “No, no, no Shannon…they’re not quoting my friends. Those names are not included because they are false smears.” As the heated back-and-forth continued, Bream pointed out that some of the sources were indeed named in the Times piece. But Stefanik remained defiant, decrying it all as a “false smear” while touting her endorsement of Trump after she assumed office.
The clash highlighted the congresswoman’s uncomfortable evolution on Trump. While she did eventually become one of his strongest supporters, Stefanik was originally critical of the brash billionaire when he first launched his insurgent 2016 campaign. Back then, she slammed his infamous “Access Hollywood” remarks about groping women as “insulting.” She also warned that backing the controversial candidate could hurt Republican chances of winning her home turf of upstate New York.
Stefanik: Stop using my own words against me. I’ve been on Ozempic and I want to be Trump’s VP. I just need to get new kidneys, fix my eyes like Melanie and get some blond highlights.
— SarahCA (@SarahBCalif) May 19, 2024
However, Stefanik’s stance shifted dramatically after Trump’s surprise victory. She eagerly allied herself with the new president, seemingly putting political expedience ahead of her prior misgivings about his behavior and policies. This drastic pivot opened Stefanik up to charges of hypocrisy and opportunism from critics. Publications like the Times have gleefully recounted her past anti-Trump comments and messages, framing her as a glory-seeking flip-flopper.
For her part, Stefanik has tried to rewrite this inconvenient history. During the Fox News interview, she claimed to have “strongly supported” Trump from the start of his 2016 run, an assertion clearly contradicted by her own previous statements. The embarrassing dustup also highlighted the intense loyalty tests Trump demands of his allies. As he weighs another presidential run in 2024, Trump has made clear he wants a running mate fully committed to backing his “Make America Great Again” agenda and bogus claims of electoral fraud.
Eager to be that vice presidential pick, Stefanik has remade herself as an “ultra-MAGA” conservative. But her angry reaction to Bream’s questioning shows the constant awkwardness of having to dismiss and deny her own documented past criticism of Trump. As a rising star in GOP politics, Stefanik is now inextricably tied to the former president’s polarizing movement and personality cult. Whether she can fully escape the contradiction of her evolution from Trump skeptic to Trump sycophant remains to be seen.
Step by the next to the fucking square