CNN pundit Scott Jennings exploded at a fellow commentator during a debate on Iran, telling him to “get your f***ing hand out of my face” on live TV.
Jennings unloaded on Adam Mockler during a clash over the popularity of the war with Iran on CNN’s Newsnight with Abby Phillip.
The heated conversation was sparked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling lawmakers on Thursday that, when he speaks to Americans, they are “grateful” for a president who is willing to take on the Islamic Republic. However, a CNN poll found in March that nearly six in 10 Americans did not back the war.
Tensions began to flare when Jennings accused 23 year-old Mockler, who has repeatedly criticised the ongoing conflict, of becoming “hyper” after his “bedtime.”
As the encounter spiralled, Mockler took a swipe at the former George W. Bush staffer for the 2003 Iraq War.
“We all know that Scott Jennings is more than happy to defend a war with a country that starts with letters ‘I-r-a’ that we are currently failing, that is going to put us trillions and trillions of dollars more in debt,” Mockler said.
“I was only a few years old while you were in the administration defending prior endless wars. Now this war is failing.”
The fiery exchange erupted as Jennings claimed Mockler had the “attention span of a gnat” for believing that the war with Iran, which began in February, was “endless.”
In his response, Mockler accused the pundit of making “condescending remarks” and asked him to name a political concession made by Iran, gesticulating with his hands as he did so.
Jennings fired back, “Get your f***ing hand out of my face, first of all.”
At that point, the show’s host, Abby Phillip, interrupted, saying, “Guys, excuse me.”
“I’m not going to have this guy’s hand in my face,” Jennings responded.
After Mockler demanded to know what concessions the United States had won from Iran, Jennings said that the U.S. was focused on preventing the Islamic Republic from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Mockler later slammed Jennings on X, accusing him of being a “grown man on the verge of tears because he can’t answer a question.”
In another X post, he claimed that Jennings “loves to dish it but can’t take it.”
Jennings’ outburst quickly went viral on social media, with one account comparing his behavior to a fight on a popular Bravo show.
“Scott Jennings on CNN fighting like he's on the real housewives (sic),” the X user wrote.
Even California Governor Gavin Newsom poked fun at the encounter, taking to X to share an edited picture of the exchange. In the image, Jennings' head had been swapped with an oversized snowflake.
