Elise Stefanik explodes at Fox News anchor and brands her a 'disgrace' as VP candidate is grilled about previously 'calling Trump a whack job'

The highest ranking Republican woman in the House got in a heated exchange on Fox News Sunday after moderator Shannon Bream raised questions about Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's loyalty to former President Donald Trump. 

Stefanik's name has been floated as a potential vice presidential pick for Trump as he runs for a second term in the White House. The New York congresswoman currently serves as Republican Conference Chair.

In the brutal interview, Bream quoted a New York Times article in which former friends told the newspaper Stefanik thought he was 'too awful and ridiculous to be taken seriously. It reported Stefanik once called Trump a 'whack job' and said her 'revisionism still shocks those who have known her the longest.'

'It's a disgrace you would quote the New York Times with nameless, faceless false sources,' Stefanik fired back at Bream in response to the question after Bream asked when and why she had changed her mind about Trump.

Rep. Elise Stefanik appearing for an interview on Fox News Sunday during which moderator Shannon Bream quoted a blistering article from the New York Times about Stefanik's shifting support for Donald Trump

Stefanik in recent years as been one of the ex-president's closest allies. 

Bream pointed out that the article was quoting some of the congresswoman's friends and said she was simply giving Stefanik a chance to respond.

'No no no... Shannon, Shannon, they're not quoting my friends. Those names are not included because they are false smears,' a visibly riled up Stefanik shot back interrupting the moderator. 

The two continued to talk over each other with Bream pointing out there are people with names quoted in the article.  She added that 'people can read it for themselves.' 

'This is a false smear and let me tell you a fact Shannon,' Stefanik insisted. 'In 2016, I was attacked as the only elected Republican from the northeast who voted for President Trump. Democrats spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking me for that fact.'

'So to say that I didn't support him is just false,' the congresswoman added.

Stefanik with Trump in January 2024. The New York Congresswoman has been floated as a potential vice presidential pick as Trump runs for president

'I have been proud to be one of his strongest supporters going back to when he ran for 2016 which was my first reelection to the House,' Stefanik claimed. 

She maintained Trump will be elected this fall, and she is one of his strongest allies in Congress. 

But Bream was not done with her tough line of questions, pointing out the New York Times article quoted Stefanik herself on a radio station calling Trump 'insulting' to women. 

'Is that a misquote. Did you not say that?' Bream pressed.   

'I said the statements that that Democrats leaked out in 2016 that that was insulting, Shannon,' Stefanik responded through gritted teeth. 'However, I stood by and supported him, and I strongly support him.'

Moderator Shannon Bream pressing Rep. Elise Stefanik about her past stance on Donald Trump during a heated interview on Fox News Sunday

Bream finished the interview by saying people can read the 2023 article with the names on the record and quotes and added 'clearly you are supportive of him now' as Stefanik grinned at the camera. 

'As I was supportive of him then,' Stefanik cut in with a final word. She finished by saying she voted for him in 2016 and was 'attacked for doing so.'

The fiery exchange happened while Stefanik was traveling to Israel where she spoke before Israel's Parliament this weekend, praising Trump and slamming President Biden. 

 The speech was seen as one which could help curry favor with the ex-president as her name has been floated as a potential running-mate. 

Traditionally, American politicians leave U.S. politics at home when traveling overseas but that was not the case with Stefanik's speech.

She said there is 'no excuse for an American president to block aid to Israel' during her speech. 

Elise Stefanik was interviewed from her visit to Israel where she spoke before the Israeli Parliament. During her speech, the congresswoman blasted President Joe Biden

 Earlier this month, Biden put the sale of 3,5000 bombs to Israel on hold, but his administration still plans to sell more than $1 billion in weapons to Israel. 

Bream asked Stefanik about the longstanding tradition of leaving politics at the water's edge and not criticizing a sitting president overseas. 

'Is that out the door now?' Bream asked. 

Stefanik countered that she was asked to speak about her work combatting anti-semitisim and supporting Israel. She said the world needs to know that the House Republican majority 'stands strongly with Israel.' 

She slammed the president saying the 'weak failed leadership' of Biden is not reflective of where the American people are.