As noted by the show’s hosts, when Trump took the stage Tuesday before an audience of middle school and high school students, some cheered for the first lady, but many were drowned out by the overwhelming number of boos. According to FNC Contributor Emily Compagno, Trump responded, “You’re fighting with me, but I’m fighting for you.”
Lahren blamed the media, Democrats and congressional leaders for influencing the young people’s decision to boo.
“Where do they learn that disrespect? Where do they learn that it is OK to boo the first lady of the United States? They learn that because they don’t believe that they have to respect Melania or anyone with the last name of Trump, because the media and congressional leaders and Democrats have told them that they don’t have to, that it’s their moral right to do those things,” Lahren said.
The Fox host also called the audience’s reaction “an epidemic” of disrespect and “people just disliking anybody with the last name of Trump.”
Compagno complimented Trump’s response to the situation, saying, “I thought she showed grace so well too.”
In a statement later, the first lady said: “We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is that we have a serious crisis in our country, and I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse.”
Lahren said, “She handled it very, very gracefully, but she always does.” She went on to call the students “despicable” and hypocritical.
“Can you imagine if this were Michelle Obama? Or can you imagine if Melania Trump was a Democrat or married to a Democratic president? She is an immigrant, and she is a woman. The first thing they would say if an immigrant woman was booed onstage is ‘That is racist. That is sexist. That is anti-immigrant. That is bigotry. That is intolerance.’ But because it’s Melania Trump, people feel as though they get a pass,” Lahren said. “It’s absolutely wrong. It’s despicable.”
On Twitter, users were quick to respond, calling out Lahren for hypocrisy. “Remind me again how Teri here respects immigrants all the time?” wrote Oliver Willis, a senior writer at The American Independent. Another user shared a montage of moments when Fox News has disrespected former first lady Michelle Obama.
After Lahren’s remarks, Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade also complimented Trump for her composure. “She’s booed onstage, knowing that every camera is there, but instead of speeding up and getting rattled, she keeps her calm, stays composed, is able to come back and meet up with the president a little bit later on,” he said.
