A conservative panelist was kicked off the set of a CNN show after a wild exchange with a liberal commentator about Trump’s heated New York City rally.
Ryan Gidursky, an author and 1776 Project PAC founder, told left-wing British-American commentator and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan: ‘I hope your beeper doesn’t go off’ when Hasan mentioned he was supportive of Palestinian rights.
After the rhetoric used at Madison Square Garden by Trump and speakers Tucker Carlson and comic Tony Hinchcliffe, many were comparing the rally to a Nazi demonstration when the pair got heated on Abby Phillip’s show.
Hasan said: ‘My problem is, I get it, nobody wants to be called Nazis, it’s very inflammatory. 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-semite more than anyone 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 New York City rally
Ryan Gidursky, an author and 1776 Project PAC founder, was responding to left-wing British commentator and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan (pictured) on Abby Phillip’s show
‘Yes, by you,’ Hasan snapped back, which Gidursky denied doing, to which Hasan responded: ‘Okay.’
Hasan then noted he was supporter of the Palestinians, when Gidursky said: ‘Well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off.’
Gidursky appears to be referencing Hezbollah – the Iranian Islamist para-military group and terrorist organization – being decimated when Israelis detonated their pagers.
Hasan looked at Phillip and then asked: ‘Did you say I should die? You just said I should be killed.’
‘No, no I did not say that,’ Gidursky replied.
He then turned to Phillip, asking: ‘Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?’
There then appears to be some debate over whether Gidursky is confusing Hezbollah with Hamas, the terror group and political organization that runs Palestine.
Phillip admonishes Gidursky as he attempts to apologize, saying: ‘That’s disgusting.’
Gidursky said: ‘Well, I hope your beeper doesn’t go off’ after Hasan talked about being a supporter of Palestinian rights
Gidursky appears to be referencing Hezbollah – the Iranian Islamist para-military group and terrorist organization – being decimated when Israelis detonated their pagers
Hasan then accuses CNN of having someone on the air ‘saying the Muslim guy 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. ‘What’s great is Rudy Giuliani said this yesterday so you’re a great guest to be here to defend Rudy Giuliani’s racism. This is what we’re in now, this is America in 2024.’
After Gidursky tries to say he didn’t want Hasan to be killed, Hasan then goes off further.
‘Forget the racism, it’s I should die. What does beeper mean? What did you mean by the beeper? At least have the guts to support your racist comment.’
At one point, Phillip can be heard quietly saying: ‘Ryan, stop talking.’
‘Don’t call us Nazis but threaten the brown guy as a terrorist and kill him,’ Hasan snarked.
Phillip then tries to call for calm after the exchange was further inflamed by former Biden-Harris campaign staffer Ashley Allison, who refused Gidursky’s apology.
When they returned from break, Phillip offered an apology to Hasan and to the viewers watching
Neither Hasan nor Gidursky returned to the show the rest of the hour
‘We have a lot of heated conversations on this show but one of the things that I do not appreciate is when we cross the line,’ she said.
‘I apologize,’ Gidursky said.
‘I appreciate the apologize, but I don’t want a conditional apology for saying something that is completely not civil.’
Gidursky then says: ‘I misheard what we had said, I thought he said Hamas.’
Beside himself, Hasan scoffs: ‘Yeah, I went on CNN and said I support Hamas, what kind of idiots do you take us for? A ridiculous thing to say.’
Phillip then tosses to break, but not before saying again that Gidursky had gone ‘too far.’
When they returned from break, Phillip offered an apology to Hasan and to the viewers watching.
‘I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at this table. It was completely unacceptable when we get this discussion started, you’ll see that Ryan is not at the table. There is a line that was crossed there and it’s not acceptable to me. It’s not acceptable to us at this network.’
When reached for comment, a CNN spokesperson said that Gidursky was no longer welcome on the network
Neither Hasan nor Gidursky returned to the show the rest of the hour.
When reached for comment, a CNN spokesperson said that Gidursky was no longer welcome on the network.
‘There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air. We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate including between people who profoundly disagree with each other in order to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding,’ Shimrit Sheetrit told DailyMail.com in a statement.
‘But we will not allow guests to be demeaned or for the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to 1776 Project PAC and Hasan for comment.