Fox News Host Calls Out Trump for Silence on Paul Pelosi Attack

Fox News host Howard Kurtz called out former President Donald Trump on Sunday for not addressing the Friday morning attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi.

"I'm glad to see actually that many of Nancy Pelosi's political opponents, nevertheless, said this was outrageous and expressed sympathy. Donald Trump for his part did not even issue a pro-forma statement on the attack on Paul Pelosi," Kurtz said on his program, Media Buzz.

On Friday, the San Francisco Police Department announced that it had arrested 42-year-old David DePape in connection with the violent assault against Pelosi. The man, who broke into the couple's home, reportedly yelled "Where is Nancy?" before attacking the Speaker's husband with a hammer. Pelosi was taken to a nearby hospital where he is currently recovering from surgery to repair a skull fracture.

While bipartisan condemnation of the attack has poured in from politicians, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Trump has not mentioned the incident, despite posting several times on his Truth Social account since news of the attack broke through.

Kurtz's comments about the former president come as others have also criticized him for not speaking out.

"Donald Trump has been spreading The Big Lie for 2 years. The violent assault on Paul Pelosi and the attempt to murder Speaker Pelosi is directly related to that Lie. Donald Trump is 100% responsible for this and Jan.6. He must be indicted and never be allowed to hold office," filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner tweeted Friday.

"Trump could come out & clearly condemn the attack on Paul Pelosi. He could say political violence is unacceptable. If would be a great thing for our country if he did that. But he likely won't, any more that he tamped down on 1-6 violence when he thought it might still help him," wrote former U.S. attorney Joyce Alene.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's press office for comment.

On Sunday, Kurtz also called out Newsmax host Greg Kelly, who tweeted on Friday that he was "'wondering' if Nancy Pelosi tried to STAGE her own mini January 6th. Complete with leaving the doors and windows OPEN for 'insurrectionists' and this Depepe [sic] fellow."

"THAT or she can't secure her home or office!" he added, according to a report from The Daily Beast. The publication noted that Kelly later deleted the tweet.

Responding to Kelly's tweet, Kurtz said: "Excuse me? Her husband underwent surgery for a fractured skull."

Some Republicans have used the attack on Pelosi to take aim at Democrats over rising crime within the country just days until the midterm elections.

"They're realizing that the crimes, whether they be a small crime where your car's broken into to a violent attack, it's because of leftist elected officials who have not enforced the laws," Kari Lake, Arizona's Republican gubernatorial candidate, said on Friday during a Fox News appearance.

Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, took to Twitter on Friday and blamed President Joe Biden for the levels of crime in the country.

"Violence and crime are rampant in Joe Biden's America. It shouldn't happen to Paul Pelosi. It shouldn't happen to innocent Americans. It shouldn't happen to me. (Swatted six times, violence & death threats every day)," Greene wrote. "Whether it's Atlanta, Chicago, NY, or San Francisco, we need to fund & support police and end the deadly nationwide crime. Praying for Paul Pelosi."