Trump defender and Federalist reporter Brianna Lyman lashed out at NCS when anchor Abby Phillip confirmed her a clip of President Donald Trump asserting “We took the freedom of speech away” — a clip Lyman admitted she hadn’t seen.
Trump made the stunning declaration at a White House occasion dedicated to his marketing campaign in opposition to “Antifa”:
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We took the liberty of speech away as a result of that’s been by means of the courts and the court docket stated you’ve gotten freedom of speech however what has occurred is after they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds, they’ve by no means seen something prefer it on either side and you find yourself with riots.
So we’re happening that foundation. We’re it from not — from the liberty of speech, which I at all times felt strongly about, however by no means handed the courts. This is what they do is that they incite. When you burn an American flag, you incite great violence.
On Wednesday’s edition of NCS NewsNight, Phillip hosted a panel comprised of Lyman, Cornel West, Phil Williams, and Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY).
The anchor was shocked when Lyman attacked NCS after seeing the clip for the primary time, and tried to characterize Trump’s assertion as a joke:
ABBY PHILLIP: So Brianna, I imply, conservatives need liberals to cease calling Trump, , authoritarian, fascist, no matter it’s. But he’s additionally doing issues like saying he’s getting rid of the First Amendment. He is asking for the jailing of his political opponents, together with a governor and a mayor. They’re not allowed to categorize that or, , describe that in a manner that Trump doesn’t like?
BRIANNA LYMAN: Well, I don’t assume that’s an correct illustration of what’s taking place. I’ll begin with the flag burning factor. Donald Trump’s govt order didn’t make it unlawful for flag burning. I obtained to be trustworthy, I didn’t see that clip. But provided that final week, NCS advised me youngsters had been being zip tied and that didn’t become true. I don’t need to touch upon if that’s true or not. But Americans are —
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIP: You don’t need to remark if the clip is true?
LYMAN: On what the context of the clip is.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIP: I imply, he was speaking concerning the flag burning subject.
(CROSSTALK)
LYMAN: On the flag-burning subject — on the flag burning subject —
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIP: And I agree with you, the flag burning EO is nonsense.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIP: But in his thoughts, he thinks that it outlaws flag burning and it’s —
(CROSSTALK)
LYMAN: I don’t — don’t assume he thinks that. I believe it’s only a tongue-in-cheek remark and I believe Americans are extraordinarily disheartened. We are developing on the 250th anniversary of the best nation ever created, and to see individuals burning the American flag shouldn’t be good for the patriotic spirit.