Conservative Host Turns On Trump In Rare Move, Makes Bold Admission Over What She Noticed

Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly has sparked a fresh wave of discussions by openly addressing concerns about former President Donald Trump’s recent performance during his interview with Elon Musk on X, formerly known as Twitter.

According to a report by Mediaite on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Kelly, who has often been seen as a staunch supporter of conservative ideals, took a surprising turn by questioning Trump’s communication style and suggesting that his age may be affecting his ability to engage effectively with the audience.

The interview in question was highly anticipated, with Trump and Musk, two towering figures in their respective spheres, engaging in a conversation that was expected to be both insightful and impactful.

However, according to Kelly, the interview did not entirely meet those expectations.

Speaking on her show, Kelly admitted that she noticed Trump appeared to be “rambling” during the conversation, a departure from the sharp and concise rhetoric that characterized his earlier years.

Kelly’s comments have resonated strongly across the political spectrum, particularly because they touch on a topic that has largely been avoided by conservatives: Trump’s age.

Kelly’s willingness to address this issue head-on, despite the potential backlash from Trump’s supporters, marks a significant departure from the typical conservative narrative that often defends Trump against any suggestion of decline.

Mediaite noted that election analyst Nate Silver brought this issue to the forefront, arguing that the media should be more proactive in investigating a potential cognitive decline due to age.

“I would encourage more reporting on, you know, is Trump in some state of decline? I think that’s a fair question to ask of any 78-year-old,” Silver said during a discussion on Kelly’s show.

Kelly, who is known for her direct and often unflinching commentary, agreed with Silver’s assessment.

“That is a fair question. Yeah, that’s absolutely a fair question,” she affirmed.

“And look, we-, one of the reasons why Trump gets upset with yours truly is because I have been raising that question for awhile. And when he has what appear to be senior moments, I will call him out on it and he doesn’t like that, and I can’t say that I blame him, but that’s my job.”

Kelly then criticized Trump’s performance in the interview, a very rare move from the conservative media personality.

She admitted, “I will say that in that discussion with Elon, to me he seemed quite rambling. I mean it was like he rambles, he goes on too long — at his rallies and in these exchanges and at his presser the other day — to where you get kind of bored, you lose the thread, you lose interest, which is not something you’re used to with Trump.”

The admission that Trump may be struggling to maintain the same level of engagement he once did has added fuel to the fire of a growing narrative among Democrats, who are now arguing that Trump is too old and unfit to serve another term.

In the aftermath of the interview with Musk, many critics seized on it to bolster their case, pointing to Trump’s meandering speech and occasional slurred words as evidence that he is not the same dynamic leader he once was.

However, Kelly’s critique is not just about age. She also suggested that the people around Trump may be facing a significant challenge in trying to keep him on message, especially as he embarks on another presidential campaign.

Kelly added, “Trump in 2016, he was tough to lose interest in, and I think that’s probably an age-related change. So I think this is one of the challenges of the people around him, who are I’m sure desperately trying to get him to stick on message.”

Silver, who continued the discussion, reflected on the broader implications of this issue for the Republican Party.

He noted that the party had a clear opportunity to win the upcoming election, particularly given the perceived weaknesses of the current administration and the recent assassination attempt on Trump.

He said, “No, look, for the first thirty minutes or so of the convention speech in Milwaukee — this is when Biden’s still the candidate, remember, and it’s just like a few days after Trump was shot at — it was a kinder, gentler, softer side of Trump and I’m like ‘OK, he’s just gonna win this election.’”

He added, “It was their election to lose — and they haven’t lost it yet, it’s 50-50, more or less — but they have fumbled the ball in a pretty profound way, I think.”