Fox News Host Addresses Judge Jeanine Pirro’s Absence From Network

Media personalities Judge Jeanine Pirro and Chief Creative Officer for Liz Claiborne Tim Gunn Jemal Countess/Getty Images

A Fox News host has addressed Judge Jeanine Pirro’s recent absence from the network.

“Justice with Judge Jeanine” didn’t air on the night of March 16 days after Pirro made remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

“A Fox spokesperson says, ‘We are not commenting on internal scheduling matters’ and yet, without some public explanation of why the show was pulled—it certainly looks like a suspension,” Fox News host Howard Kurtz said on the air on March 17.

He added, “Pirro’s remarks, which were unfortunate, sparked a furor.”

Kurtz noted that Omar recently made remarks that were described by many as anti-Semitic, and she drew criticism from Jewish groups.

Kurt reiterated Pirro’s remarks about Omar.

“Omar wears a hijab, which according to the Quran 33:59 tells women to cover so they won’t get molested. Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution?” he said.

Kurtz didn’t say that Pirro was fired, as some news outlets reported over the weekend.

Fox, in a statement, said it condemned her comments.

“They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly,” said the network.

Pirro issued another statement to clarify her remark.

“I did not call Rep. Omar un-American. My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course because one is Muslim does not mean you don’t support the Constitution,” she said.

Meanwhile, on March 17, President Donald Trump called on Fox to return Pirro to the air after her show didn’t air on Saturday. She also hasn’t posted to Twitter in a week.

“The Radical Left Democrats, working closely with their beloved partner, the Fake News Media, is using every trick in the book to SILENCE a majority of our Country,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “They have all out campaigns against @FoxNews hosts who are doing too well.”

Trump noted that Fox has to “stay strong” in the face of relentless pressure and “fight back with vigor.”

“Stop working soooo hard on being politically correct, which will only bring you down, and continue to fight for our Country,” he added. “The losers all want what you have, don’t give it to them. Be strong & prosper, be weak & die!”

He also called on Fox to stay “the people that got you there.”

“Keep fighting for Tucker, and fight hard for @JudgeJeanine,” Trump added. “Your competitors are jealous – they all want what you’ve got – NUMBER ONE. Don’t hand it to them on a silver platter. They can’t beat you, you can only beat yourselves!”

Hours later, Trump also asked if two Fox weekend anchors were “trained by CNN.”