Ann Coulter ignited a Twitter feud with Sean Hannity on Sunday when she implied the Fox News host had been curtailed in 2013 by network executives from criticizing Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) immigration legislation.
Hannity on Rubio's amnesty, Jan 2013: “It’s probably the most thoughtful bill that I have heard heretofore.” https://t.co/kJV483Hcvl— Ann Coulter (@Ann Coulter) 1456693065.0
According to a recent report by the New York Times, Rubio met with Fox News executives Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes, in an effort to persuade them “to keep the network’s on-air personalities from savaging [the so-called Gang of Eight immigration bill] and give it a fighting chance at survival.”
According to the Times, the executives “agreed at the Jan. 17, 2013, meeting to give the senators some breathing room.”
The Times notes that Rubio “ultimately abandoned the bipartisan legislation,” and it failed to pass the House.
In a series of tweets, Coulter appeared to imply Hannity was one of the on-air personalities affected by the deal Rubio reportedly struck with Fox News executives. In one tweet, for instance, she quoted Hannity speaking favorably about the immigration deal.
Hannity replied that Coulter was only telling “half the story,” and denied participation in the meeting.
He noted Coulter’s past support for candidates like Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.), both of whom are regarded as moderates.
Hannity said that he has been reporting on illegal immigration since before the launch of Coulter’s book on the subject, and he has visited the border.
“[You] went when?” he asked.
Other than a few specifics reported by NYT, everyone knew what was happening at the time https://t.co/UwhjopypS5 https://t.co/q3kcRGpKvC— Ann Coulter (@Ann Coulter) 1456768060.0
NYT doesn't say you had dinner with Schumer & Rubio, says your bosses agreed to take a dive.https://t.co/OvuncLhoyh https://t.co/WFQuYxwMvC— Ann Coulter (@Ann Coulter) 1456768348.0
“Why are you letting this get to you?” one Twitter user asked Hannity.
“I [am] correcting the record,” he replied.
Another tweeted him a picture of a crying baby, to which he replied, “Ok this is funny.”
@seanhannity @AnnCoulter https://t.co/DWlj2PMNZe— Marc (@Marc) 1456697394.0
One user tweeted that Coulter and Hannity are pundits who are “doing nothing but trying to sell books.”
“Both have compromised conservatism by supporting a fraud leftist,” the Twitter user added.
Hannity replied that he has “no plans” to write another book.
Good, me too. You're the only one we can trust on immigration on Fox. (But you should be mad at Rubio!) https://t.co/VOcekhvIwm— Ann Coulter (@Ann Coulter) 1456769465.0
This story has been updated.