CNBC’s Joe Kernen ‘destroys’ Sen. Coons in Signal controversy exchange

CNBC’s Joe Kernen held Democrat Sen. Chris Coons’ feet to the fire over the so-called scandal of the Signal group chat.

The Delaware lawmaker was put on the defensive as Kernen called out Democrat hypocrisy in demanding the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House national security adviser Michael Waltz.

“Did you call for Lloyd Austin’s resignation? Not only did we lose 13 service members, we left $70 billion worth of equipment that fell into the hands of the Taliban,” the “Squawk Box” co-anchor asked, referring to the former Secretary of Defense and the disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops out of Afghanistan.

Joe Kernen destroys Senator Chris Coons over the Signal hoax:

“Did you call for Lloyd Austin’s resignation? Not only did we lose 13 service members, we left $70B worth of equipment… He was [under anesthesia] and didn’t tell the White House. Did you ask for him to resign?” pic.twitter.com/Gwb3NUh756

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) March 28, 2025

“Couple of years later, he was out of pocket for two weeks and didn’t tell the White House. Did you ask for him to resign at this point?” Kernen pressed, referring to Austin’s health issues.

“The fact the Secretary of Defense was getting healthcare is fundamentally different from the Secretary of Defense sharing on an unsecured platform attack plans,” Coons shot back.

“The point is you’re going to complain about a splinter in one eye and ignore a two-by-four in the other eye,” Kernen blasted the faux outrage.

Coons has been banging the drum on social media with demands for Hegseth to step down.

Secretary Hegseth has put our servicemembers in danger and our credibility as a security partner at risk. He can no longer credibly claim that he makes our country safer. For the good of our nation, he must resign.

— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) March 26, 2025

Social media users blasted Coons for his double standard and praised Kernen for confronting the Democrat.

Joe Kernen is invaluable. These hypocritical SOBs never get asked this to their face when they call for the resignations of Waltz and Hegseth.

— Lakota Patriot (@n8ivpatriot) March 28, 2025

The hypocrisy is astounding!

— Brenda (@brendab316) March 28, 2025

The look of shock from a guest who is used to softballs and coddling on that network.

— JonBaby (@JonBaby13) March 28, 2025

Coons is grasping at straws! They all are grasping at straws because they got nothing! Pete isn’t going anywhere!

— Kathleen Winchell ❤️ (@KathleenWinche3) March 28, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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