A “Fox and Friends” panel on Thursday reacted with shock and amusement when a guest diagnosed one of President Trump’s biggest political hurdles — a “foie gras eating insider swamp monster” from Kentucky.
Former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino sat down with Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade for a segment on Mr. Trump’s political opponents and their apparent misreading of his behavior.
Mr. Bongino, a native of Queens, said that people who never grew up near New York City, particularly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will struggle to understand the president’s psychology.
“I’m a Queens guy,” Mr. Bongino said, Mediaite reported. “We were never as rich as the Manhattan guys, never as tough as the Brooklyn and the Bronx guys. They always have this ’I have to be better than them’ [mentality]. That’s Trump. When you understand he’s a Queens guy, that all makes sense. [Former Director of National Intelligence James] Clapper doesn’t get him — he’s a fighter. He’s a Queens guy.”
Mr. Bongino was then asked if the same misunderstanding applies to lawmakers.
“Yeah you’ve got the Queens guy,” Mr. Bongino said. “And then you’ve got this upper-crust, bow-tie wearing, foie-gras eating, insider swamp monster in Mitch McConnell, and he doesn’t understand a builder from Queens. He’s had to deal with unions. He’s had to deal with city regulators his entire life. You’ve got a brawler at a golf match and you’re wondering what’s going on.”
“I don’t even know what that is, but it sounded good,” Brian Kilmeade said as the panel laughed.
“What?” Mr. Doocy exclaimed in disbelief.
Ms. Earhardt laughed, covered her mouth and clarified for viewers that their guest was talking about fatty duck liver served at high-end restaurants.
Mr. Mitch McConnell has been an object of ridicule among the president’s supporters since Congress failed to partially repeal The Affordable Care Act in late July.
The Republican also endured mockery after an Aug. 7 Rotary Club meeting in Kentucky when he lamented the president’s “excessive expectations.”
“Senator Mitch McConnell said I had ’excessive expectations,’ but I don’t think so. After 7 years of hearing Repeal & Replace, why not done?” Mr. Trump tweeted Aug. 9.
Senator Mitch McConnell said I had “excessive expectations,” but I don’t think so. After 7 years of hearing Repeal & Replace, why not done?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2017
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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