Bill O'Reilly Defends Morning Joe Hosts For Hot Mic Incident With Donald Trump

O'Reilly: I Don't “See Anything Wrong With That Kind Of Banter”

Written by Media Matters Staff

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Fox News host Bill O'Reilly responded to criticism lodged against MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for a “hot mic” conversation they had with Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump during a townhall event. During the recording Scarborough and Brzezinski praised Trump and allowed Trump dictate the questions asked in the final segment. While most media figures criticized the hosts' coverage of Trump, O'Reilly said that he did “not see anything wrong with that banter.” From the February 23 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

BILL O'REILLY (HOST): Some believe that conversation was inappropriate. It began with Mrs. Brzezinski complimenting Mr. Trump for bringing an Iraq war veteran on the stage with him.

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Talking Points does not see anything wrong with that banter. I want to be quite clear. Donald Trump has said similar things to me off camera that he brings in big rating and doesn't get much out of it. But he does it in a joking way and of course he gets a lot out of it.