(WHDH) — During a brief and unexpected appearance on Fox News’ “FOX & Friends” program Monday morning, Massachusetts State Sen. Barbara L’Italien slammed the Trump administration border policy that led to child immigrants being separated from their parents.
“FOX & Friends” Executive Producer Desiree Dunne said the hosts of the show were expecting to interview pro-ICE Arizona Congressional candidate Ann Kirkpatrick but instead found themselves speaking live with Massachusetts Congressional hopeful L’Italien, who seized her opportunity to lambaste the Trump administration’s policy.
“I’m actually here to speak directly to Donald Trump. I feel that what’s happening at the border is wrong. I’m a mother of four, and I believe that separating kids from their parents is illegal and inhumane. I’m actually Barbara L’Italien, I’m a state senator representing a large immigrant community and running for Congress in Massachusetts,” L’Italien said.
Before being cut off by one of the hosts, L’Italien said, “I keep thinking about what we’re putting parents through, imagining how terrifying that must be for those families. Imagining how it would feel not knowing if I’d ever see my kids again. We have to stop abducting children and ripping them from their parents’ arms, stop putting kids in cages, and stop making 3-year-olds defend themselves in court.”
In an interview with 7News, L’Italien, who is running to replace U.S. Rep. Nikki Tsongas, acknowledged that she misrepresented who she was to get on the air, saying she saw it as an opportunity to send a clear message to the president, who is a well-known fan of the FOX show.
“It’s a very serious issue,” L’Italien said. “It deserves serious recognition and serious discussion … I think sometimes it means taking the opportunity to bring forth political discourse.”
When @foxandfriends invited @teambarbara on its show this morning, thinking she was another democrat … she’s says she looked at it as an “opportunity” to speak directly to @POTUS & seized the chance #7News pic.twitter.com/SWEf9zgal6
— Kimberly Bookman (@KimberlyBookman) July 23, 2018
She also revealed that her press contact, Joe Katz, formerly worked for Kirkpatrick.
In a statement, Dunne said, “This morning we invited Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick to appear on Fox & Friends First through her press contact on file Joe Katz, who accepted the invitation on Kirkpatrick’s behalf. Katz followed with an email confirming the segment, which also included background information and a campaign logo for Ann Kirkpatrick. During the actual segment, Barbara L’Italien, appeared on camera instead of Kirkpatrick. Despite speaking to producers prior to the interview, L’Italien did not identify herself as anything other than Kirkpatrick until she was live on air, at which point we ended the interview.”
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