The former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Craig Fugate, walked off an interview on MSNBC after another guest disagreed with him.
During an appearance on MSNBC on Thursday, Fugate argued that it is a “myth” that a “single person” is managing the response to the coronavirus for the whole country.
After the former acting head of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Andy Slavitt, disagreed with him, Fugate said, “I don’t have time to listen to bullsh*t, people,” and removed his earpiece and left the set.
Host Katy Tur tried to get Fugate to engage with Slavitt’s argument, but he did not come back, “Craig, you want to sit down and respond to this? … I guess Craig has left.”
Watch the video below:
Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate storms out of an MSNBC interview after being criticized
— Lis Power (@LisPower1) March 19, 2020
Andy Slavitt: What you other guest is suggesting here is not helpful.
Fugate: I don't have time to listen to bull shit, people!
[storms off] pic.twitter.com/q3UsM1Id3S
Fugate and Slavitt both served in former President Barack Obama’s administration. However, they had different views in regards to the federal government’s role in managing the coronavirus outbreak.
Fugate argued during the interview that the federal government should “get out of [the states’] way” when it comes to managing the coronavirus outbreak.
“The myth of a single person in charge taking control and running this is a myth,” Fugate said, adding, “This is going to be dealt with on the front lines and local and state levels, and each state is going to be addressing this unique to their systems.”
He continued:
“I’ve always believed the best way the federal government can support governors is to get out of their way, get them funding, use CDC to give guidance.
“As we’re running out of stuff, I’m asking, why are we not looking at idle capabilities now and governors go contract for that? Why wait for the federal government?” he added.
However, Slavitt disagreed with Fugate.
“They are all acting. What they need is coordination. Because we have, believe it or not, we have masks, we have a lot of these things. Guess where they are? They’re sitting in the supply chain, people are profiteering off of them, or they’re going to places where people are hoarding them.”
“What your other guest is suggesting here is not helpful,” Slavitt said. He added, “We need a great partnership between the federal and state government.”
That prompted Fugate to take out his earpiece and leave. After the interview, Fugate apologized for the incident in a tweet:
“Dear [MSNBC], [Katy Tur] At the point I’m not helping, time to step back. Never was good at the talking head thing anyway. This is too critical of a time to let emotions get in the way. My apologies to you and your audience.”
Dear @MSNBC , @KatyTurNBC At the point I’m not helping, time to step back. Never was good at the talking head thing anyway. This is too critical of a time to let emotions get in the way. My apologies to you and your audience.
— Craig (@WCraigFugate) March 19, 2020
Slavitt responded to his tweet and praised Fugate as a “Terrific public servant.”
Tur also responded, “No apologies necessary.”