A CNN panel discussion went off the rails on Wednesday after a guest who had served in President Joe Biden’s administration claimed that then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had “never compromised American lives.”
Dan Koh, who was the White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary during the Biden administration, began the exchange by suggesting that military leadership in President Donald Trump’s administration was putting people at risk and “no one was facing consequences.”
“That’s when people check out and realize that their democracy may not be what they thought it was,” Koh continued.
WATCH:
This is one of the most BRUTAL exchanges I’ve ever seen on CNN.
LIB: “Secretary Austin never compromised American lives…”
JENNINGS: “13 American lives?! They were more than compromised, they were ENDED.”@ScottJenningsKY does not miss. pic.twitter.com/0Ag73R2ZuK
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) April 3, 2025
Republican commentator Scott Jennings pushed back, noting that Koh “held a high-ranking position with Joe Biden.”
“Yes, I did, you did with George W. Bush,” Koh replied.
“Did you recall a single person in your White House or in your Democratic Party asking for the resignation of Lloyd Austin after Afghanistan, after the drone strike vaporized those kids, or after he went AWOL, yes or no?” Jennings asked, referencing the fact that Austin had been in charge when the Biden administration had closed Bagram Air Base and evacuated everyone — both military and civilian — through the crowded international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The end result of that decision was a chaotic withdrawal that left American equipment behind, American allies at the mercy of Taliban leaders who immediately took power, and a suicide bombing that killed 13 American service members and dozens of Afghan citizens.
“Secretary Austin never compromised American lives,” Koh replied, but the words had barely left his mouth when everyone at the table began talking at once.
Exclamations came from all directions: “That’s a no,” “He did,” and, “Thirteen of them.”
Jennings looked straight at the camera in apparent disbelief for a split second before he joined the fray, exclaiming, “Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen American lives were more than compromised. They were ended!”
[#item_full_content]
[[{“value”:”
A CNN panel discussion went off the rails on Wednesday after a guest who had served in President Joe Biden’s administration claimed that then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had “never compromised American lives.”
Dan Koh, who was the White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary during the Biden administration, began the exchange by suggesting that military leadership in President Donald Trump’s administration was putting people at risk and “no one was facing consequences.”
“That’s when people check out and realize that their democracy may not be what they thought it was,” Koh continued.
WATCH:
This is one of the most BRUTAL exchanges I’ve ever seen on CNN.
LIB: “Secretary Austin never compromised American lives…”
JENNINGS: “13 American lives?! They were more than compromised, they were ENDED.”@ScottJenningsKY does not miss. pic.twitter.com/0Ag73R2ZuK
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) April 3, 2025
Republican commentator Scott Jennings pushed back, noting that Koh “held a high-ranking position with Joe Biden.”
“Yes, I did, you did with George W. Bush,” Koh replied.
“Did you recall a single person in your White House or in your Democratic Party asking for the resignation of Lloyd Austin after Afghanistan, after the drone strike vaporized those kids, or after he went AWOL, yes or no?” Jennings asked, referencing the fact that Austin had been in charge when the Biden administration had closed Bagram Air Base and evacuated everyone — both military and civilian — through the crowded international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The end result of that decision was a chaotic withdrawal that left American equipment behind, American allies at the mercy of Taliban leaders who immediately took power, and a suicide bombing that killed 13 American service members and dozens of Afghan citizens.
“Secretary Austin never compromised American lives,” Koh replied, but the words had barely left his mouth when everyone at the table began talking at once.
Exclamations came from all directions: “That’s a no,” “He did,” and, “Thirteen of them.”
Jennings looked straight at the camera in apparent disbelief for a split second before he joined the fray, exclaiming, “Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen American lives were more than compromised. They were ended!”
“}]]
