Politico reporter falsely accuses Fox anchor of saying ‘colored’

Considering the demographics who typically watch Fox News, it’s ironic that it’s one of its youngest viewers that’s desperately in need of a hearing test. In a clip from this morning’s Fox and Friends that has circulated the web, Fox host Brian Kilmeade critiqued Vice President Kamala Harris’s decision to speak to a “college sorority”… but the mob has been quick to assert he said “colored sorority.” Politico reporter Eugene Daniels, the current head of the White Houser Correspondents’ Association, tweeted the clip with the caption:

“Kilmeade: ‘She’d rather address, in the summer, a sorority…a COLORED sorority, like she can’t get outta that!’ Not this in the year of Beyonce 2024.”

Kilmeade was critical of Kamala Harris for skipping Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress this afternoon. Instead, Kamala chose to deliver a speech to a historically black sorority Zeta Phi Beta in Indianapolis.

“The problem with Kamala Harris, number one, she has not had her record exploited heavily,” Kilmeade said. “And number two is she hasn’t sat down for an interview. When she sits down for an interview and says, ‘Do you want to fund ICE? Where do you stand on Medicare for All? Why didn’t you show up?’ — the most recent decision, you already gotta question. She will not show up for the prime minister’s joint session of Congress today.”

Kilmeade continued: “She would rather address, in the summer, a sorority… a college sorority… like she can’t get out of that. So that’s her decision, and that’s her decision to back up the protesters.”

Cockburn listened to the clip a couple of times. And in slow motion. Kilmeade definitely says “college sorority.” But Cockburn guesses you can make out anything with a practiced political ear.

After Daniels’s initial tweet got over 2,000 reposts, he followed up: “A fox rep has reached out to me, asserting Kilmeade said ‘college’ instead of ‘colored’ sorority here…” 

An hour later Daniels deleted his first tweet and posted: “I spoke to Fox News about this and plan on speaking to Brian when he is off air. They’ve made it clear to me that he used college, not colored. The audio is garbled but I am going to take Brian and his team at their word.” Daniels, who has demonstrated his intimate access to the vice president’s team during his time atop Politico‘s Playbook, attached a screenshot of his deleted tweet with the video clip.

Unfortunately, the clip had already reached wide audiences, with tweets like Alex Cole’s: “Yo, Did Brian Kilmeade just say ‘Colored Sorority’? They can’t control their racism over there on Fox News,” who also tweeted two hours later: “If you’re explaining, ‘No, I didn’t actually use a racist slur,’ then guess what? You already lost.”

Cole may be referring to Brian Kilmeade’s defense on his radio show. 

“I’ve never used that word in my life,” Kilmeade said. “If you’re listening to what I’m saying, if you know where she’s speaking, why would I even say that? This is an example of how everybody is looking to jump on other people for no reason … People, use your heads. Don’t look for something trending on Twitter and just assume it’s true. I hope we’re smarter than that by now.”

Party chair of the Democratic National Committee Jaime Harrison tweeted: “‘A COLORED sorority’…in 2024 on national tv…this clown thought it was correct and appropriate to use the term ‘colored’ to describe a distinguished and historic African American sorority. But what is even worse…a Black man sat a few feet away on that couch and didn’t correct him. He was as quiet as a church mouse. Folks be prepared for the racism and misogyny… but let’s put them on notice, America is now ‘unburdened’ and we ain’t going back!!”

One response to Harrison’s tweet came from the co-host of Fox and Friends Lawrence Jones: “I’m the black man. You’re so damn dishonest. He said ‘college.’ But that’s all you have. You know the bullshit that you advocate for only brings death, poverty, and destruction to our black communities. You are welcome on the show anytime to debate it. Me and you.”

And X’s new “Explore” function proved as helpful as Daniels’s initial mishearing. Right now the item about the furore is titled “Kilmeade’s ‘Colored Sorority’ Comment Sparks Debate.” News you can use!