Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich referred to former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan as a “terrorist” during a discussion about Hasan’s public feud with Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday.
Background on the Exchange
The dispute began when Pavlich commented on Hasan’s criticisms of Vance, who had been debating issues surrounding free speech and media access. Hasan took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn Vance after a report by Axios journalist Marc Caputo detailed President Donald Trump’s decision to bar the Associated Press from White House events.
Trump’s move came after the wire service refused to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” in line with one of his executive orders. Hasan used Vance’s recent remarks in Munich—where he raised concerns about European attitudes toward free speech—as a springboard for his attack.
Pavlich Weighs In
Pavlich entered the discussion on X, stating, “U.S. policy is not to negotiate with terrorists.” While the remark did not explicitly name Hasan, it was clearly directed at the British-American pundit. Naturally, the comment sparked controversy, given the history of similar accusations against Hasan.
U.S. policy is not to negotiate with terrorists https://t.co/nGkz95BsnG
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 18, 2025
Controversies Surrounding Mehdi Hasan
Hasan himself is not without controversy, having been at the center of various squabbles over the years:
-Past Remarks on Non-Muslims and Homosexuality: In the early 2000s, recordings surfaced in which Hasan made derogatory comments about non-Muslims, comparing them to “cattle.” He also made remarks about homosexuality, listing it among behaviors he described as incompatible with Islamic teachings. In 2019, Hasan publicly apologized, stating that the comments no longer reflected his beliefs.
-Cancellation of ‘The Mehdi Hasan Show’: MSNBC canceled Hasan’s show in November 2023, fueling speculation that his outspoken criticism of Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict influenced the decision. Supporters argued that his views on Palestinian rights may have played a role in the network’s move.
-Election Commentary Criticism: In October 2024, Hasan faced backlash for urging voters to choose the “lesser of two evils,” particularly concerning the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on Gaza compared to a hypothetical Trump administration. Muslim critics contended that his stance lacked moral accountability.
The controversy involving Pavlich echoes an October 2024 incident when conservative pundit Ryan Girdusky was expelled from CNN after baselessly implying on-air that Hasan was a terrorist.
Girdusky to Hasan: I hope your beeper doesn’t go off pic.twitter.com/YmHhYnkDZ3
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 29, 2024
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