GOP Eric Schmitt clashes with ABC host over Trump’s pardon of Hernández: 'Your ratings are so bad'

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Eric Schmitt erupted on national television on Sunday, December 7, when repeatedly pressed about President Donald Trump's pardon of ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a leader convicted of orchestrating massive psychoactive-substance operations.

During an interview on 'This Week', ABC's George Stephanopoulos attempted multiple times to get a direct answer.

Instead, Schmitt deflected and complained that the show favored Democrats. The tense exchange comes as Trump remains under scrutiny for pardoning a foreign leader reportedly found guilty of facilitating large-scale psychoactive supplement shipments into the US, creating growing discomfort among Republicans trying to defend the move. 

Eric Schmitt clashes with George Stephanopoulos over pardon question 

The confrontation began when Stephanopoulos asked Schmitt whether he supported Trump's decision to pardon Hernàndez.

Schmitt immediately evaded the question, saying "I'm not familiar with facts and circumstances," he said before launching into a defence of Trump's tough-on-cartels record. 

When Stephanopoulos pushed again, the senator snapped. "With your previous guest (Democrat Adam Smith), you had zero pushback because he's giving the Democrat talking points like you spew every week, which is probably why your ratings are so bad," Schmitt stated. 

Schmitt then accused Democrats of trying to portray Trump as weak, calling the idea "totally ridiculous" and then delivered a monologue praising Trump for "border security like we've never seen before."

He also celebrated Trump-era operations against psychoactive substances impacting "100,000 Americans every year," ignoring that Hernàndez himself oversaw the flows of the same into the US.  

Stephanopoulos remained unmoved. "What do you mean you're not familiar with the facts and circumstances of the pardon? it's been reported all across the country," he pressed.

Still Schmitt dodged again, pivoting to complaints about ABC's treatment of Democrat Adam Smith minutes earlier. 

Trump-Stephanopoulos feud looms over the exchange

The on-air clash unfolded against the backdrop of Trump's feud with Stephanopoulos, after the anchor cut short an interview with Vice President JD Vance.

Trump later mocked the host as "George Sloppodopoulos" and refused to take questions from ABC reporters. 

Also, tensions were already high following Trump's defamation lawsuit against Stephanopoulos and ABC News. 

The dispute stemmed from an on-air characterization of the verdict in writer E Jean Caroll's case, a description Trump argued was inaccurate. ABC ultimately resolved the lawsuit with a $15 million settlement. 

As Stephanopoulos asked Schmitt a third time, "Do you support the pardon of the convicted psychoactive t******ker or not?"

Schmitt again sidestepped, saying, "This attempt to try and focus on a pardon is classic because you have lost the debate now."