Donald Trump made an unusual phone call for some heart-to-heart counsel from Fox News before his press conference announcing he was pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord.
The president sought a bit of hand-holding from a media organization not known for its science — nor for its concern about global warming.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, co-host of Fox’s nightly news program “The Five,” revealed on air Thursday that the president called her at 8 a.m. to discuss “climate change” — and taxes.
“I think he did the brave and courageous thing, and in fact I told him that this morning ... when he called,” said Guilfoyle, referring to the president’s controversial decision to back out of the Paris Agreement. “I spoke to him about it, and this was something very much so on his mind.”
Her stunned co-host Greg Gutfield asked: “Wait a second. Who called you? I think that you buried the lead here.”
“I know, yeah, the president called me at 8 in the morning,” she said.
“I thought it was Fox News. But then he said he loves ‘The Five’ — ‘terrific show’ — and said to say hello to all of you.”
She added: “He was excited about this today; it was going to be a big speech and a lot of people would be excited about it. However, there would be people that would be upset and disappointed. He would do his best to explain.”
Guilfoyle took the opportunity to share her own wisdom on the climate pact with Fox News viewers. “I don’t think this is a deal that anybody should be crying about. Like we said, it’s nonbinding, and the United States is already a clean energy, oil and gas leader. So we can keep doing what we’re doing.”
Guilfoyle has a law degree and has worked for Fox News since 2006, beginning with a program that focused on crime and legal issues.
The leaders of 190 countries, the mayors of at least 61 U.S. cities and countless scientists disagree with Guilfoyle — and Trump.
The gushing Guilfoyle recently revealed that she’s on a short list of candidates to replace White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who reportedly hasn’t been pleasing his boss. The Washington Post has said that Guilfoyle is “openly gunning” for Spicer’s job.
“I’m a patriot, and it would be an honor to serve the country,” Guilfoyle said after revealing last month that she had been interviewed for a communications role in the White House. “You need someone really determined and focused, a great communicator in there with deep knowledge to be able to handle that position.”