SiriusXM host and YouTube commentator Megyn Kelly unleashed a scathing critique of CNN anchor Abby Phillip this week, accusing her of bias and mocking her on-air style after a segment comparing President Donald Trump’s gaffes to a recent stumble by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
The clash stems from a moment at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, where Ocasio-Cortez delivered what was described as a tentative and stumbling response to a question about Taiwan during a panel discussion. The exchange quickly went viral online, drawing sharp criticism from opponents of the progressive lawmaker.
On Tuesday’s edition of CNN NewsNight, Phillip addressed the viral moment. While acknowledging Ocasio-Cortez’s “flub,” Phillip juxtaposed it with a series of verbal missteps by President Trump. She questioned whether critics piling on Ocasio-Cortez should also direct similar scrutiny at “the actual president of the United States.”
That framing did not sit well with Kelly.
During Thursday’s episode of The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, Kelly took aim not only at Ocasio-Cortez but at Phillip herself, delivering a biting monologue that included a derisive impression of the CNN anchor.
Adopting a monotone voice to mimic Phillip, Kelly mocked her on-air question: “Are we going to really pretend that the actual President of the U.S. has not made similar or perhaps worse flubs on the global stage?”
Kelly then pivoted to a direct attack on Phillip’s performance and CNN’s ratings.
“Are we really gonna pretend that you’re the answer to CNN’s need for fair and balanced coverage and new audience? Because you’re failing!” Kelly said. “No one watches you. Your audience has been cut to below 400,000, which is a complete embarrassment. You ought to be fired!”
She went on to call Phillip “cocky” and “smug,” suggesting her perceived self-assurance was unwarranted. Kelly predicted that if Phillip were to leave CNN and attempt to launch an independent venture, she would struggle there as well.
Continuing her impression, Kelly accused Phillip of speaking in a monotone, attacking President Trump under the guise of reasonableness, and frequently cutting off conservative panelists. She questioned how viewers could tolerate what she characterized as an unbalanced presentation.
“I mean, who could listen to this woman? It’s horrible!” Kelly said. “She’s got more people on her panel than she does audience members!”
CNN NewsNight panels typically feature at least two pro-Trump guests, at least two liberal-leaning guests, and often a more nonpartisan figure, such as a polling or legal expert.
Despite Kelly’s claims, NewsNight currently averages around 800,000 viewers and has not dipped below 400,000 since Christmas week.
The heated exchange underscores ongoing tensions between conservative media personalities and CNN anchors, particularly when it comes to coverage of President Trump. What began as a discussion of Ocasio-Cortez’s stumble at an international forum quickly escalated into a broader debate over media bias, ratings, and the direction of cable news.
