Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) on Sunday dismissed “Fox News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream for referencing a report that questioned her past support for former President Trump, as her name continues to be touted as her choice for vice president.
In a conversation on Sunday about Trump’s vice presidential list, Bream referenced a report from the New York Times published in 2022 that included anecdotes about old comments Stefanik made criticizing the former president.
“Shannon, it’s a shame you quote the New York Times,” Stefanik said before Bream interjected: “But they’re quoting you, Congressman.
“No, no, no, Shannon…they are not naming my friends. Those names are not included because they are false smears,” Stefanik said.
Bream pointed to a source in the Times report that revealed that Stefanik told a New York radio station in August 2015 that Trump was “an insult to women” and that his candidacy would harm the party’s efforts to attract female voters.
“This is a false smear. And let me tell you… a fact, Shannon, in 2016, I was attacked as the only elected Republican from the Northeast who voted for President Trump,” Stefanik said. “Democrats also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking me for this fact. So to say I didn’t support him is simply false. I’m proud to be one of his strongest supporters since he ran in 2016, which is when my first re-election to the Chamber.”
Stefanik said she is confident that Trump will be the next president of the United States, describing himself as one of her “strongest allies” in Congress.
The New York Republican later said her “record speaks for now,” prompting Bream to interject: “So let me ask you, why do they quote you on a radio station, calling you an insult to women. Is that a misquote? Didn’t you say that?”
“I said the statement the Democrats leaked in 2016 was an insult,” Stefanik responded. “However, Shannon, I supported him and I supported him strongly. And he did a lot to promote women in leadership roles, as well as to promote the economic opportunities for women that we experienced during the four years of his administration.”
“It’s a shame that you take a New York Times article and just read negative quotes when the reality is that I was the only Republican elected woman from the Northeast who voted for him in 2016, who supported him strongly, and I’m proud to be one of your strongest allies today,” she added.
“We know where you are today,” Bream responded. “People can read this article for themselves. There are a lot of people’s names that have been recorded, and we’re going to leave it there. Clearly, you support it now.”
Stefanik is among a number of names suggested for Trump’s running mate. Earlier this month, she sidestepped questions about the prospect, noting “a lot of names” under consideration.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
