Fox Business host Dagen McDowell laid into Geraldo Rivera during a panel discussion on Wednesday’s Fox News broadcast of “The Five,” saying it was “the height of idiocy” to claim that Canada’s ongoing trucker protest was an “act of war.”
Rivera argued that the truckers’ move to effectively shut down the U.S.-Canada border in certain places amounted to an “act of war,” prompting an immediate response from several others at the table.
Geraldo Rivera said the Freedom Convoy was an "Act of War" and that the truckers participating were "thugs." pic.twitter.com/kzjvWOERuL
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) February 16, 2022
Noting that their blockade of certain roads was having a dramatic impact on international commerce, Geraldo said that was “like an act of war.”
“You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth!” cohost Greg Gutfeld shot back, prompting Rivera to respond, “I am not!”
“You wouldn’t see two sides of my mouth anyway,” Rivera quipped before McDowell jumped in.
“To call closing some lanes on a bridge an act of war is the height of idiocy,” she said.
Rivera went on to refer to the truckers as “thugs,” arguing that at least a couple of auto plants had already been shut down for a week because parts could not get through the blockades. “They have put these people out of work. How dare they?” he added.
Rivera roundly condemned the convoy during a segment about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to invoke emergency powers in order to put down the protest that has brought Ottawa to a halt in recent weeks.
“My understanding is it’s not that popular in Canada,” Judge Jeanine Pirro said of Trudeau’s emergency powers, but Rivera pushed back, saying that the truckers were not popular among Canadians either.
“What about the freedom of the homeowners to live in peace? The freedom of the shopkeepers to do business? What about the freedom of the autoworkers to get parts?” Rivera asked.
“Did you say this when they were burning down the federal courthouse in Seattle for two months?” Pirro asked.
“I did more than that,” Rivera shot back. “I condemned it. I condemn anyone who feels so — so empowered that they can take away your right to establish their rights.”
Rivera went on to claim that conservative media was to blame first for giving the truckers credibility and then “inciting” them to carry the protests further. “It is conservative media that has gone from support to incitement,” he said.
“Do you say that we are inciting it?” Gutfeld demanded. “Show us the evidence.”
Rivera cited polls that he said proved the truckers were losing support among Canadian citizens.
“Open your eyes and look at it!” Rivera challenged.
“I actually read and do research. I don’t just come here and yell,” Gutfeld pushed back.
Rivera doubled down on Thursday’s broadcast, saying that it was “about time” Canada shut down the protest. “They should’ve done this weeks ago. They shouldn’t let it fester and metastasize the way it has. And I cannot for the life of me think of a good reason why,” he said.
The Daily Wire’s first original film, Shut In, has made its cinematic debut, being met with rave reviews. The Daily Wire is building an alternative to the leftist entertainment industry, one gripping movie at a time. Join us in this mission and stream Shut In today by becoming a Daily Wire member.
Source: Dailywire
