A conversation between Fox News host Sean Hannity and outspoken Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones was bound to be heated, and Jones’s appearance on Hannity’s show lived up to expectations. The two men clashed over several issues, with Jones calling out Hannity for his support for Republican fearmongering.
Jones and Hannity clash over ICE
Jones appeared on a segment of Hannity’s Fox News show Monday evening to discuss Jones’ criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. During the segment, a split screen displayed a scrolling list of alleged “crimes committed by illegals in TN,” with various names and nationalities listed alongside violent crimes. As Hannity pressed Jones to name people in Tennessee who had been victims of “crimes by illegal immigrants,” Jones continued to discuss the violent tactics being used by the Trump administration.
“You want to go through a list? Go through the list of the pedophiles and perverts who hang out at Mar-a-Lago. Go through that list,” Jones clapped back to Hannity.
Jones condemned Republican fear tactics
Hannity and Jones’ interview was contentious throughout the segment, with the duo often talking over each other and talking past one another with raised voices. Jones continued to chide Hannity and Republicans for using fear tactics.
“You don’t care about the American people,” Jones told Hannity. “You’re distracting from the real issues. You want them to be afraid of immigrants because all you have is fear.”
As the segment neared its end, Jones continued, “The threat to the American people is in the White House, not these immigrants,” noting that most of those being detained by ICE had no criminal convictions on their records. “Shame on you, God have mercy on you,” Jones declared before offering to pray for Hannity, which he then began to do as the Fox News host ended the segment.
Taking on the GOP again
For Jones, this is, of course, not the first time he has dramatically clashed with conservatives. Jones and fellow Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson rose to national prominence after Republicans expelled them from their seats following a protest by the two men and an older white female colleague who was not expelled on the legislature floor. The incident backfired for Republicans as Jones and Pearson quickly gained national attention and regained their seats in special elections; Pearson is currently running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Jones, meanwhile, has yet again gained national attention in this latest public clash, with many people concluding that Jones got the best of Hannity on his show.
“Nonzero chance that Fox stops airing these ‘Hannity Debates a Dem’ segment after this,” media personality Acyn Torabi commented on X, formerly Twitter.
Whether Hannity continues to bring prominent Democrats on his show remains to be seen. For now, at least, Hannity’s latest attempt to push the current right-wing agenda concerning immigration hit a roadblock as Jones pushed back against the conservative narrative, calling out Hannity and the Trump administration in the process.
