Navarro Cries ‘Hysteria’—Jennings Fires Back With Facts and a Mic Drop [WATCH]

During Wednesday night’s episode of CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, political commentator Scott Jennings defended President Donald Trump’s recently announced 90-day pause on tariffs, emphasizing the administration’s use of leverage in negotiations with foreign governments.

The discussion quickly turned contentious as panelists Ana Navarro and Tiffany Cross pushed back with personal and hypothetical critiques, while Jennings remained focused on the strategic implications of the pause.

The discussion began when CNN Business anchor Richard Quest asked why President Trump had not announced the tariff pause earlier.

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Jennings responded that the administration’s delay was intentional and aimed at strengthening the U.S. negotiating position.

“I think, the answer that you would get from the administration is doing it this way gave him maximum leverage,” Jennings said.

“It showed people that he was serious and it showed people that this isn’t for show, that if you don’t deal with us, we are willing to act here. But I think the answer is leverage, simply leverage. And now he’s going to be able to deal with all these other countries and continue to isolate the bad actor, which is China.”

The tariff pause comes amid growing international interest in trade negotiations with the U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday that over 75 countries have expressed interest in discussions.

.@SecScottBessent: “We’ve got over 75 countries that want to come in” and negotiate a trade deal. pic.twitter.com/HF5nQtHl2U

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 10, 2025

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However, the conversation turned more heated when CNN and The View co-host Ana Navarro responded to Jennings’ analysis with criticism of President Trump’s temperament.

“Well, I don’t think he’s shown people that he’s serious. I think he’s shown people that he’s crazy. He’s mercurial,” Navarro said.

“Honestly, if it was Kamala Harris behaving this way, they’d call her hormonal and hysterical, right?”

Jennings responded that such hypotheticals were irrelevant unless Harris were elected president.

Navarro quickly followed up, saying, “Yes. And if she had been elected, and if Hillary Clinton had been elected, if any woman had been elected and been acting this way, they’d say it was menopause.”

Jennings pushed back, saying, “She would’ve never stood up to China.”

He later reiterated that position on X writing, “Harris would’ve never stood up to China. Never.”

Harris would’ve never stood up to China. Never. https://t.co/KnJBcy9S41

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) April 11, 2025

Navarro, visibly frustrated, continued her criticism, shifting focus to President Trump’s broader foreign policy behavior.

“No, it’s not a mood issue because his craziness and the way that he acts,” she said, adding complaints about his interactions with foreign leaders and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has played a role in the administration’s economic oversight.

In the same segment, the panel later discussed broader international engagement, during which Tiffany Cross referred to Trump’s attitude toward Greenland as “very colonizer” and dismissed Jennings as “irrelevant” because he is “not a member of government.”

Jennings responded directly, saying, “You got fired from your job, how relevant are you?”—a reference to Cross’s previous departure from MSNBC.

CNN Guest to @ScottJenningsKY: You’re irrelevant!

JENNINGS: You got fired from your job! How relevant are YOU?! 🔥pic.twitter.com/pv1vVrnGuZ

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 10, 2025

The segment highlighted the stark divide among commentators over Trump’s approach to foreign policy and trade, particularly with China.

While Jennings emphasized the strategic use of leverage to isolate China and bring other countries to the negotiating table, critics focused on tone and presentation rather than the substance of the administration’s policy decisions.

President Trump’s tariff pause is expected to open a 90-day window for renewed trade discussions with numerous countries, while maintaining pressure on the Chinese government.

The administration has not signaled whether the pause could be extended beyond the initial period.

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