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CNN
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CNN says a right-wing commentator will not be welcomed back on air after he made a racist comment on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.”

On Monday’s primetime show, after Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan declared he supports the Palestinians, conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky responded: “I hope your pager doesn’t go off.” The comment referred to the thousands of pager explosions in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants. CNN has learned that the attacks were carried out by Israel.

Hasan then asked Phillip, “Did your guest just say I should be killed on live TV?” Girdusky responded by falsely equating Hasan’s Palestinian support with the terrorist group Hamas.

“That is completely out of pocket. You know that,” Phillip told Girdusky. Phillip apologized to viewers for his comments. Girdusky said he apologized because he thought Hasan said he supported Hamas, a claim Phillip and Hasan rejected.

A few minutes later, when the show returned from a commercial break, Phillip addressed viewers and Hasan for Girdusky’s “completely unacceptable” comments and was removed from the show.

“A line was crossed there and that is not acceptable to me. It is not acceptable to us on this network. We want discussion. We want people who disagree with each other to talk to each other. But if you cross the line of a complete lack of civility, that’s not going to happen here on this show,” Phillip said.

In a statement, CNN said there is “no room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our broadcast” and that Girdusky “will no longer be welcome on our network.”

“We strive to promote thoughtful conversations and debates, including among people who strongly disagree, to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding,” CNN said in a statement.

After the show, Girdusky posted on X: “Apparently you can’t get on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America sees what CNN stands for.”

The segment was intended to discuss the rhetoric at former President Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden, including a common joke made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at the event that called Puerto Rico “garbage.” After the meeting, Trump’s campaign tried to distance itself from Hinchcliffe and his comments.

“This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Trump campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement to CNN.