Scott Jennings says US lost more in Minnesota fraud than Iran war, clashes with CNN's Abby Phillip

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: A heated exchange broke out on 'NewsNight with Abby Phillip' on Thursday, March 12, after conservative commentator Scott Jennings argued that alleged fraud in Minnesota had cost the United States more than its recent military action against Iran.

The debate began when host Abby Phillip criticized the billions of dollars spent during the conflict, saying the funds could have been used for domestic programs and humanitarian causes.

Scott Jennings sets record straight on war spending

Abby Phillip questioned the billions of dollars spent to fight the war in Iran.

“That is Donald Trump. That’s what some people voted for because they wanted him to spend money here instead of $11 billion dropping bombs elsewhere in the world,” Phillip said during the discussion.

Jennings quickly pushed back, disputing the focus on the war’s cost. “I’m sorry, Abby, but we’ve spent more money in this country on Somali fraud in Minnesota than we’ve spent on this war so far,” he said.

Phillip responded by emphasizing the scale of the war’s price tag, arguing that billions spent on military operations could have addressed social and humanitarian needs.

“$11 billion is a lot of money, and it’s a lot of money that could have saved millions of children around the world,” Phillip said. “It could fund hunger programs here in the United States. It could fund health care. I mean, it could do a lot of things.”

Jennings re-iterated that money spent on war was indeed a necessary spending for United States to ensure peace and stability.

“You seem to be worried about this $11 billion but not TBD billion in Minnesota,” said Jennings.

Panelists argue over whether war spending was justified

Political commentator and former Clinton White House aide Keith Boykin also chimed in in the debate, highlighting how quickly war spending can escalate.

“$11 billion could fund the entire CDC budget,” Boykin said, referring to the approximate funding level for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“And we spent that in six days in the Iran war.” He added that if the pace of spending continued, the total cost could exceed $20 billion within less than two weeks of military operations.

Jennings looked down and let out a weary sigh, clearly unimpressed.

Federal prosecutors have estimated that fraud schemes tied to public assistance programs could cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Earlier, President Trump, during his State of the Union address, made mention of Minnesota fraud saying “When it comes to the corruption that is plundering, it really is plundering, America, there’s been no more stunning example than Minnesota, where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer”.