On Friday evening, during a discussion of violent protests at the Republican convention in California, CNN anchors Erin Burnett and John Berman on two different programs both seemed oddly worried that an innocent joke Donald Trump made about sneaking across the border would exacerbate tensions.
On Erin Burnett Outfront, host Burnett wondered if the levity was "stoking the flames," and, an hour later, as he substitute hosted Anderson Cooper 360, Berman visibly winced as he recalled the joke and asked if it was "a smart joke to make, given the circumstances?"
At 7:05 p.m. ET, speaking to conservative CNN political commentator and Trump supporter Kayleigh McEnany, Burnett brought up the joke: "You heard Jason say that Donald Trump made that joke twice, so let me just play again what he said about getting past protesters and what he said he, quote, unquote, 'went through today.'"
Then played a clip of Trump from the convention: "We went under a fence and through a fence and, oh, boy, I felt like I was crossing the border, you know, actually. It's true. I was crossing the border, but I got here."
The CNN host posed: "Is he stoking the flames with comments like that?"
McEnany complained that "The left has a problem with violence," recounting riots in Baltimore and Ferguson, and called on Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to condemn violence by the left.
An hour later at 8:08 p.m., McEnany -- again appearing as a panel member -- was asked a similar question by Berman. The CNN host first recounted the violent protests: "These were protesters protesting against Donald Trump, but the confrontations were with law enforcement who was there to keep them out of the hotel. This wasn't like what we saw in Chicago where you saw Trump supporters clashing with Trump protesters there."
He then bristled over Trump's joke as he added: "Kayleigh, still, Donald Trump made a joke about it. He said, when he got to the hotel, when he had to crawl over the median and go in the back door, it felt like crossing the border. (pauses to wince) A smart joke to make, given the circumstances?"
After McEnany gave a similar response as before in highlighting the problem of violence by left-wing protesters, Berman oddly felt the need to ask if McEnany supports peaceful protest as he followed up: "Quickly, you have no problem with nonviolent protests. If people are out there protesting policies, you're okay with that?"
Below are transcripts of relevant portions of CNN's Erin Burnett Outfront and Anderson Cooper 360 from Friday, April 29:
#Erin Burnett Outfront:
7:05 p.m. ET
ERIN BURNETT: You heard Jason say that Donald Trump made that joke twice, so let me just play again what he said about getting past protesters and what he said he, quote, unquote, "went through today."
DONALD TRUMP: We went under a fence and through a fence and, oh, boy, I felt like I was crossing the border, you know, actually. It's true. I was crossing the border, but I got here.
BURNETT: Is he stoking the flames with comments like that?
KAYLEIGH McENANY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Oh, I don't think so. You know, there's an offense crowd today, a politically correct crowd that will look for anything he says or does to take offense to, this being an example. It was a light-hearted joke, but the real story here is last night 20 protesters were arrested. They were beating down cop cars, trying to turn them over, punching Donald Trump supporters.
The left has a problem with violence. We saw it in Baltimore. We saw it in Ferguson. It is unacceptable. It's inexcusable, and it's time for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to stand up and say this is unacceptable, we don't condone violence. Donald Trump said it time and time again, and it's time that they do likewise because this is a left-wing problem.
(...)
#Anderson Cooper 360:
8:08 p.m. ET
JOHN BERMAN: These were protesters protesting against Donald Trump, but the confrontations were with law enforcement who was there to keep them out of the hotel. This wasn't like what we saw in Chicago where you saw Trump supporters clashing with Trump protesters there.Kayleigh, still, Donald Trump made a joke about it. He said, when he got to the hotel, when he had to crawl over the median and go in the back door, it felt like crossing the border. (pauses to wince) A smart joke to make, given the circumstances?
KAYLEIGH McENANY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I thought it was pretty funny. I think people like to take offense to anything. And instead of putting the onus on Donald Trump here, I don't understand why we aren't instead asking for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders to come out and condemn this because these are left-wing protesters.
We've seen this in Baltimore, we've seen this in Ferguson, incidents that did not include Donald Trump. We see them smashing in windows, beating up Trump supporters -- he had blood all over his face. Where are the calls for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to condemn these people. Instead, we're talking about a joke Donald Trump made rather than placing the culpability where it belongs, which is with the left.
BERMAN: Quickly, you have no problem with nonviolent protests. If people are out there protesting policies, you're okay with that?
McENANY: Sure. Absolutely. That's what America is about. Of course. Bring the nonviolent protesters. That's A-OK.
