The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) schooled CNN anchors, who appeared genuinely confused and shocked after they gave anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil numerous chances to say he condemned Hamas, and he refused.
During a CNN segment on Tuesday, Pamela Brown and Wolf Blitzer asked the former Columbia University protester, who was detained by ICE in early March before being released by a federal judge, if he condemned the terrorist group after President Donald Trump's administration accused him of being a terrorist sympathizer.
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"Just to be clear here though, do you specifically condemn Hamas, a designated terrorist organization in the United States, not just for their actions on October 7?" Brown asked.
"I condemn the killing of all Pal-, of all civilians, full stop," Khalil replied. "And, but what I don't want to get into is-"
The anchor interjected and tried once again to help Khalil out and asked him, "But do you condemn Hamas, specifically?"
"No, I am very clear with condemning all civilians. I'm very straight in my position in that part," Khalil insisted. "But it's disingenuous to ask about condemning Hamas while Palestinians are the ones being starved now by Israel. It's not condemning October 6, where 260 Palestinians were killed by Israel before October 7."
"So I hate this selective outrage of condemnation because this is not, this wouldn't lead to a constructive conversation," he added. "And this is also, like what we want to deal with is the root causes of why that happened. And it's no way anyone can justify the killing of civilians."
Third time's the charm! Brown hits him once more:
BROWN: Just to be clear, Mahmoud, we did ask about-, you know, we've talked at length about your views, of course, on the Palestinians. But it is fair to ask you about whether you condemn Hamas because the Trump administration has claimed that you are a Hamas sympathizer. So it's very important to actually ask that question in this broad conversation.
And to no one's surprise, he ignored the question and deflected, stating that he "simply asked and protested the war in Palestine … That's why I wouldn't really engage much into such questions on condemnation or not. Because selective condemnations is not, wouldn't get us anywhere. It's just like a hypocrite, to be honest."
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The DHS responded to the clip and said Khalil has not been "painted" as a Hamas sympathizer; he is one, and not condemning the terrorist group is just more proof.
"Mahmoud Khalil refuses to condemn Hamas because he IS a terrorist sympathizer not because DHS 'painted' him as one," the Department wrote on X. "He 'branded' himself as an antisemite through his own hateful behavior and rhetoric."
"It is a privilege to be granted a visa or green card to live and study in the United States of America," the post added. "The Trump Administration acted well within its statutory and constitutional authority to detain Khalil, as it does with any alien who advocates for violence, glorifies and supports terrorists, harasses Jews, and damages property."
Gotta love when CNN accidentally stumbles on the fact that Trump was right again.
The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.
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