CNN Analyst Didn't Hold Back, Called Trump 'Old And Incompetent' On Live TV
While Democrats were blasted for staying seated during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, one CNN pundit had a very different take.
Former congressman turned commentator Bakari Sellers went on air and unloaded on Trump, defending Democrats who refused to stand or clap during the nearly one-hour and 47-minute speech.
Appearing on NewsNight with Abby Phillip alongside Brad Todd, Ken Cuccinelli, Ashley Allison, and Terry Moran, Sellers pushed back hard after Todd argued that Democrats “made a mistake” by not rising to applaud honored guests like the U.S. hockey team.
“First of all, I think the bar is in hell for Donald Trump,” he said. “I’ve said it multiple times. I want to say it again. The president of the United States is aged, he’s old, he’s incompetent. His subjects and verbs, they fight often. He’s not a great orator.”
He went even further.
“I mean, there is nothing comparable to Barack Obama. There’s nothing comparable to George W. Bush. There’s nothing even comparable to Joe Biden in terms of oratory and what you saw tonight. So that’s first.”
For Sellers, the issue wasn’t whether Democrats stood up at the right time. It was the bigger picture. “I understand the pomp and circumstance of the State of the Union,” he said. “But most Americans are beyond that.”
He admitted he didn’t love every Democratic reaction, including interruptions from Rep. Ilhan Omar. Still, he argued that symbolic gestures inside the chamber pale in comparison to what’s happening outside of it.
“What are we juxtaposing that against?” Sellers asked. “We’re juxtaposing that against Renee Good being murdered in the street. We’re juxtaposing that against Alex Pretti dying, shot multiple times in the street.”
The deaths of Good and Pretti during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota became national flashpoints earlier this year. Critics tied the incidents to Trump’s aggressive deportation policies and the deployment of federal agents in major cities.
“So yeah, I get it. Democrats didn’t stand up when he said that line,” Sellers continued. “But the fact is, Donald Trump is killing Americans. People are tired of the National Guard in their cities, in their streets, ICE, and Border Patrol.”
Sellers also took aim at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski, calling the administration “incompetent from the top down.”
“The showmanship is one thing,” he said. “But the utter incompetence that people are feeling every day, I think that is what’s going to win or rue the day.”
Meanwhile, the protests inside the chamber added to the tension. Texas Rep. Al Green held up a placard reading “Black people aren’t apes,” referencing a racist video previously shared on Trump’s social media account.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
