“I’m Not Going to Take the Bait”: Iraq War Veteran Rejects Deflection in Heated CNN Debate

A heated exchange unfolded on CNN’s NewsNight when Iraq War veteran Paul Rieckhoff firmly rejected what he considered a diversionary tactic from Republican strategist Scott Jennings. The conversation revolved around a new report in The Atlantic in which former Marine General John Kelly accused Donald Trump of repeatedly referring to slain soldiers as “losers.”

Rieckhoff, who appeared on the show hosted by Abby Phillip, expressed how significant this new revelation was, as it came from a credible source, John Kelly, who had served as Trump’s longest-running chief of staff. Unlike previous anonymous leaks or unconfirmed stories, Rieckhoff highlighted the importance of Kelly speaking publicly. “He’s going on the record,” Rieckhoff emphasized. “You’re hearing his voice. He wants everybody in the world to hear his voice.”

The former Iraq War veteran, who has been vocal about military affairs, pointed out that many key figures from Trump’s administration have already spoken out against the former president. He noted that retired Marine Corps General James Mattis, Trump’s former defense secretary, remains one of the few notable figures who has yet to criticize Trump publicly.

However, just as the discussion focused on Trump and the explosive claims made by Kelly, Scott Jennings, a senior political commentator and former special assistant to President George W. Bush, shifted the conversation.

Deflection Attempt Thwarted

Jennings posed a question aimed at redirecting the discussion toward President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ treatment of the families of soldiers killed in the Abbey Gate bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“What do you think of the way [President Joe] Biden and [Vice President Kamala] Harris have treated the families of the Abbey Gate soldiers?” Jennings asked. Rieckhoff, clearly frustrated, swiftly dismissed the question, accusing Jennings of attempting to deflect from the subject at hand.

“I’m not going to go into a different topic. No-no,” Rieckhoff said, shaking his head. Jennings tried to interrupt, but Rieckhoff held his ground. “If this was your show and you want to ask me questions, we can line them up, but that’s a total distraction.”

Jennings tried to protest again, but Rieckhoff remained firm. “No-no. I’m not going to take the bait on that.” Rieckhoff emphasized that he had previously spoken out about the Abbey Gate tragedy and other related issues, but reiterated that the current discussion was focused solely on Trump’s actions and words. “We’re talking about one singular issue,” Rieckhoff said, refusing to let the conversation be sidetracked.

A Return to the Issue at Hand

The bombing at Abbey Gate, which occurred in August 2021 during the final days of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, claimed the lives of 169 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. service members. Jennings’ attempt to bring this incident into the conversation did not gain traction with Rieckhoff or the show’s host, Abby Phillip.

Phillip stepped in to regain control of the debate and challenged Jennings’ deflection. She pointed out that the topic on the table was Trump’s treatment of fallen soldiers and the damning statements attributed to him by his former chief of staff.

“Even if you take that as fact, you can’t just address what is on the table here, which is Donald Trump, his actions, his words, his character,” Phillip said. She questioned why Jennings would defend Trump on this issue now when it seemed indefensible a year or two ago.

Jennings attempted to justify his remarks by stating that opinions on Trump within the military are mixed, claiming that views on the former president are “up and down” throughout the ranks. However, Rieckhoff quickly rebutted this, pointing out that among senior military officials, there was not the same division of opinion.

Jennings also argued that the panel had been one-sided and had overlooked Biden and Harris’ treatment of military families. But Phillip again pushed back, reminding viewers that no one has accused Biden or Harris of disparaging the families of fallen soldiers in the same way Trump allegedly had.

In the end, Rieckhoff’s firm stance and Phillip’s moderation kept the discussion focused on the central issue — the serious allegations leveled against Donald Trump by one of his closest former aides, General John Kelly.