CNN commentator Scott Jennings found himself in a sharp exchange with a fellow conservative during Thursday night’s broadcast of NewsNight.
The tense moment unfolded after Caroline Sunshine, a former Disney actress who later worked as a Trump aide, challenged Jennings over his assertion that Iran has effectively been “at war” with the United States for 47 years — a reference tracing back to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
The panel was discussing whether Congress should place “guardrails” around Donald Trump’s authority when it comes to Iran. Jennings dismissed the idea with sarcasm, asking whether lawmakers expected to create “a world where we’re all rainbows and unicorns with the Iranians.”
“They’ve been at war with us for 47 years — 47 years of death to America,” Jennings said, characterizing Iran’s posture toward the US.
Sunshine, 30, quickly pushed back. “Scott, come on, 47 years?” she exclaimed.
Anti-Trump Republican Ana Navarro then noted that “nobody has been rainbows and unicorns with the Iranians,” but Sunshine cut in before the point could settle.
“Why didn’t I learn about the 40 — why didn’t — I’m sorry: The first time I’ve ever heard about the 47-year Iran war was like, this year,” the former child star said, stumbling through her objection. “Like, we don’t teach—”
Jennings interrupted her before she could finish, replying bluntly: “I’m sorry, you don’t read much.”
Scott Jennings clashed with former Disney actress and Trump aide Caroline Sunshine about the continued conflict in Iran on Thursday
Sunshine had questioned whether the US and Iran have been ‘at war’ for the past 47 years, since the 1979 Iranian Revolution
The panel promptly went off the rails, as the two attempted to speak over each other.
‘Did you just start following the news this year?’ Jennings, 48, quipped.
Sunshine said it was ‘insulting’ to refer to the prolonged hostility between the two countries as a ‘war.’
‘It’s insulting? It’s insulting to your intelligence that you have no idea what the Iranians have done,’ said Jennings.
‘How many Americans have they killed on U.S. soil in 47 years in the war that we haven’t had with them?’ Sunshine asked – to which Jennings countered, ‘thousands.’
‘They have maimed American soldiers, ‘ the former George W. Bush advisor continued.
‘Yeah, which is all wrong,’ Sunshine said as Jennings continued.
‘They have attacked American allies, and they have been at war-‘ he said. As he spoke, Sunshine urged him to explain ‘why’ US soldiers have ‘been over there.’
Sunshine, 30, said it was ‘insulting’ to refer to the prolonged geopolitical conflict as a ‘war,’ among other things
Jennings continued to explain how the The Islamic regime that assumed authority in 1979 has had it our for the West ‘ever since [it] came to power.’
‘And it is their intention to build a nuclear weapon and use it on us, and use it on Israel, and use it on the west,’ said Jennings as Sunshine again attempted to interrupt.
‘That is their intention, and they state it every day,’ Jennings repeated.
‘No,’ answered Sunshine. ‘They intend to just keep using the Strait of Hormuz.’
The pundit maintained that the Iranian regime had ‘now learned that they can behave like a nuclear power without ever needing to be one.’
‘But, okay, so like,’ she continued, collecting herself. ‘If we’re going to keep going with this, what number of American troops are we willing to commit to keep going, And like, what’s your number?’ she asked Jennings.
‘Like, how many US troops are you willing to expend to achieve your objectives? And what amount of money? Because, like, we’re not having that conversation.’
As Jennings tried to get a word in, Sunshine continued.
‘They’ve been at war with us for 47 years – 47 years of death to America,’ Jennings argued
‘And we need to, because we’ve already spent $300 billion, [and] we’ve already lost.’
‘Those are the questions we need to we need to answer,’ she said.
Jennings offered a rhetorical question as a retort.
‘What amount of money am I willing to expend to keep the American people safe from the worst regime in the world? A fair amount.’ he asked and answered, making his point.
‘Okay. Iran- nobody is like- first of all, Iran does not have a nuclear weapon,’ answered Sunshine. She argued that Iranian leaders ‘don’t want a nuclear weapon.
‘And nobody is firing-‘
Jennings interrupted to address the other statement.
‘They don’t?’ he said, laughing.
‘Nobody is firing a nuke at a country that has 5,000 of them. Do you understand?’ Sunshine countered
The two continued to spar before moderator Abby Phillip mercifully cut-in
The two continued to spar before moderator Abby Phillip mercifully cut-in.
‘I think one of the other things about this, Scott, I heard you earlier saying that if they don’t behave well, they don’t get anything. Why is this always about what they get? What about what we need to get? We need to get the uranium.’
The conversation moved on from there.
Sunshine rose to fame co-starring in the Disney Channel series Shake It Up. She joined Trump’s White House in 2018, after starring in the TV movie Mommy, I Didn’t Do it in 2017. Her first appearance on NewsNight was in June.
She made headlines that month for a viral clash with former Bill Clinton aide Keith Boykin about the administration’s current immigration policies.
Sunshine engaged in a fierce debate with ABC News contributor Tara Setmayer during a debate last week about Trump’s unsuccessful bid to end birthright citizenship as well.
Like Jennings, she considers herself an ardent conservative. The Republican Party is being plagued by in-fighting following Trump’s failed 14-point deal to end the Iran War, now in its fifth month.
