The CNN panel discussion got downright heated when comedian Pete Dominick lost his cool with Republican commentator Scott Jennings and writer Coleman Hughes over Biden’s presidency and its lingering fallout. Hosted by anchor Abby Phillip, the debate quickly veered into a shouting match as Dominick fiercely defended the Biden administration, clashing with Jennings, who argued that the president’s approval nosedived after the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. Dominick fired back, making the discussion a battle of perspectives as he doubled down on his stance against Donald Trump.
Jennings’ argument wasn’t complex: the Biden presidency had a stable start, but since the botched exit from Afghanistan, it’s been caught in a tailspin. His polling numbers have languished below 40%, and his administration’s “adults are back” rhetoric rang hollow for many. Dominick interrupted with a dismissive “Why?” and quickly tried to steer the conversation back to Trump, calling him a “child” and casting Biden as the more mature option. Jennings responded coolly, pointing to the families of the 13 service members killed during the withdrawal, noting how Biden’s administration largely overlooked them—an oversight Trump took time to address.
“And you know what — and you know what else? The fact that they wouldn’t give these 13 service members’ families the time of day,” Jennings continued without raising his voice, referencing the families of the 13 service members killed at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal — families who were ignored by the Biden administration and who Trump took the time to visit and get to know. “They would not. They would not.”
That was enough to set Dominick off. The comedian, visibly frustrated, yelled over Jennings, parroting claims from The Atlantic that Trump “hates veterans” and had previously called them “suckers” and “losers.” Dominick’s passion was palpable, but Jennings, unfazed, countered calmly, trying to ground the discussion in what he called “political reality.” But Dominick wasn’t interested in calming down—he even declared, “It will never be over!” when Jennings tried to wrap up, implying that the fight over Trump’s legacy was far from finished for him.
“Bulls***, dude!” Dominick objected, shouting as he cited The Atlantic and insisted despite all evidence to the contrary, “I’m sorry, but Donald Trump hates veterans. He called them ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’ He did! He absolutely — despite — he has his whole life. He has his entire life.”
.@PeteDominick beclowned himself on CNN tonight. Props to @ScottJenningsKY for staying above the fray and keeping it classy in the face of this profanity-spewing nutjob. pic.twitter.com/LFetw6QYzs
— Gregory T. Angelo (@gregorytangelo) November 8, 2024
As the conversation continued, Coleman Hughes stepped in, echoing Jennings’ point that the issue with Afghanistan wasn’t about ending the war but how Biden had done it, which sent a strong signal to Americans that maybe Biden wasn’t the “competent adult” they’d expected. Hughes explained that voters were looking for a return to normalcy and confidence, which Afghanistan undermined. Dominick, refusing to let go of his narrative, argued back that the messy history of Afghanistan and Iraq rested solely on Republicans, glossing over the Biden administration’s independent choice to pull out in such a hasty manner.
Dominick’s frustration boiled over again when Jennings mentioned that Biden’s handling of inflation only added to public disillusionment. By the end, Dominick resorted to calling Jennings and Hughes residents of “the tippy-top of bulls*** mountain,” scoffing that they didn’t understand Biden’s resilience in public perception post-Afghanistan. Jennings, with a shrug and an eye-roll, simply responded that he could “read a chart,” suggesting Dominick’s fiery takes might be short on facts.
CNN Panelist’s TDS Goes off the Charts During Heated Debate With Scott Jennings
PETE DOMINICK: “Donald Trump hates veterans! He called them suckers and losers. He absolutely despises them.”
SCOTT JENNINGS: “I know you’re super emotional.”
PETE DOMINICK: “Of course I am. I’m… pic.twitter.com/ry4mTeiauX
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) November 8, 2024
The panel was a perfect showcase of where we are in American politics: on one side, you had Jennings and Hughes calmly pointing out the hard facts of Biden’s blunders—from the Afghanistan disaster to skyrocketing inflation. And on the other? Dominick, red-faced, clinging to anti-Trump sound bites like they were a lifeline, refusing to see that Biden’s “return to normalcy” has been anything but normal. Dominick seemed more interested in scoring Twitter points than addressing the real issues. It’s telling when the “adults back in the room” can’t own up to the mess they’ve made. But sure, let’s just keep talking about Trump—because that’ll definitely make inflation disappear and fix our botched foreign policy.
