CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin had a chemical attack survivor on her show Friday to discuss the Syrian regime's sarin gas attack on civilians in Khan Sheikhoun and President Trump's subsequent military response. To say Baldwin's transparent attempt to coax an anti-Trump soundbite from Kassem Eid -- who now lives in Germany -- wildly backfired is an understatement.
Kassem said he cried with joy when he heard that the United States had bombed the Syrian airbase. "I thanked God. I was overwhelmed," he said.
Baldwin acknowledged that the president received praise from both Democrats and Republicans following the missile strike, but made sure to point out, "At the same time, he doesn't want Syrians to come into this country with this refugee ban."
She then queued up a clip of none other than Hillary Clinton weighing in on Trump's dastardly travel ban at an event earlier this year: "We cannot speak of protecting Syria’s babies, and in the next breath close America’s doors to them," Clinton intoned.
"Quickly Kassem, how do you see that?" Baldwin asked, hoping for a big anti-Trump soundbite to ensue.
A soundbite ensued, alright. Kassem proceeded to tear into bleeding-heart liberals like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for being more concerned with sending Syrians hither and thither than actually helping them in their own country.
"With all due respect, with all due respect," Kassem began. "I didn't see each and every person who was demonstrating after the travel ban.... I didn't see you three days ago when people were gassed to death....I didn't see you in 2013 when 1,400 people were gassed to death. I didn't see you raising your voice against President Obama's inaction in Syria that left us refugees," he said, completely deflating her expectations.
"If you really care about refugees, if you really care about helping us, please -- help us stay here in our country," he continued. "We don't want to come to the United States. We want to stay in our country. We want to stay in our country," he repeated. "With all due respect, this is hypocrisy. If you really care, if you really care...help us stay in our country. We don't want to become refugees. We want to stay in our country. Help us establish safe zones, he pleaded.
"I understand," Baldwin said, looking down. She really wanted to end the interview at this point.
"Help us stay safe in our country," Kassem repeated again. He went on to address the president personally: "And if you'll just give me a few seconds just to tell President Trump, once again. Please sir, what you did was amazing. What you did was a powerful message of hope for a lot of people inside and outside of Syria. Please don't stop on this. Please. Help Syrians stay in their country! Please take out Assad's air forces so they won't be able to commit more atrocities using traditional weapons," Kassem said. "500,000 people were killed with traditional weapons -- just so people can know what we've suffered in the past six years."
"The most painful memory about that attack was watching President Obama failing to fulfill his promise about breaking the red line," said Kassem.