“Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt apologized on Wednesday for referring to Vermont’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Christine Hallquist as “that transgender” on the show’s most recent broadcast.
“I was responding to the reporter’s comments when I moved too quickly and couldn’t recall Christine Hallquist’s name,” said Earhardt in an exclusive statement to TheWrap. “As a person of faith, I sincerely promise I never ever meant anything derogatory and I am sorry it may have come off that way.”
On set, Earhardt dropped the “that transgender” line while the show recapped the winners and losers of various primaries around the country this week.
“That transgender beat the 14-year-old,” said Earhardt referring to one of Hallquist’s primary challengers, teenager Ethan Sonneborn, who took advantage of a loophole to get on the ballot.
“They didn’t have an age limit and that 14-year-old said I’m going to run,” she added. “Ran in the primary. Didn’t win.”
The moment drew widespread scorn online including a viral rebuke from Chelsea Clinton.
“Her name is Christine Hallquist. More about her here,” said Clinton, while including a link to Hallquist’s website.
Her name is Christine Hallquist. More about her here: https://t.co/6zaFuDnecO https://t.co/LaLYrOJp74
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 15, 2018
Hallquist’s primary victory on Tuesday made her the first transgender American to ever receive a major party nomination for governor of a U.S. state. Reps for the Hallquist campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap.
It was a newsworthy day on the popular Fox News morning show. Also on the program, the cast offered a rueful assessment of President Trump’s handling of the Omarosa situation, with Brian Kilmeade telling viewers (and likely the president himself) that he was allowing himself to be had by his former apprentice.
“In order to sell a book, [Omarosa] has come out with a series of tapes and in many ways, seems to have outsmarted the president,” said Kilmeade with dismay. “[Trump] has taken the bait and gone out and tweeted directly after her.”
You can watch the full “Fox & Friends” segment where the moment occurred below.