DISCLAIMER: This article was first published in May of 2021.
Kids really know how to speak their minds! Fox News host Brian Kilmeade was talking to a sixth-grader named Mason Seder. Mason was sharing what he missed most about school during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “I miss most, obviously seeing my friends and all the after-school activities that I’ve done and I think that we’re very close to getting back to school.” But then, he added something surprising: he thought President Joe Biden was handling the pandemic well! Mason boldly claimed, “We would have not have gotten to this if it was still the last president,” referring to Donald Trump.
You could almost hear a record scratch when Kilmeade heard that. He replied, “Really? That’s hard to believe because the last president was saying, ‘I want every kid back in school.’
Brian Kilmeade to a 6th grader who said he doubted if Trump could handle reopening well: “Really? That’s hard to believe. Because the last president was saying I want every kid back in school.” pic.twitter.com/5USXBhAnBU
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) May 5, 2021
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This exchange quickly became a hot topic on social media. People chimed in with their thoughts. One commenter said, “Asking a child’s opinion and then immediately rebutting is not what we want to teach children.”
Asking a child’s opinion and then immediately rebutting is not what we want to teach children.
— melina white (@melinabuzz) May 5, 2021
Dan Rather, the famous journalist, weighed in too. He said, “Wow. The Trump reflex is very strong – like when a doctor taps your knee with a rubber hammer and you can’t help but kick.”
Wow. The Trump reflex is very strong – like when a doctor taps your knee with a rubber hammer and you can’t help but kick. https://t.co/iKDGdP1JJ8
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) May 5, 2021
Another commenter, ShellySplainin’ (@okShellz), said, “Kilmeade is pathetic. I do love that kids are smarter and have more integrity than that group. It’s refreshing and hopeful.” Marks Molnārs (@Rad1cody) added, “Kilmeade should learn to not argue with people who are smarter than him.”
Kilmeade is pathetic. I do love that kids are smarter and have more integrity than that group. It’s refreshing and hopeful.
— ShellySplainin’ (@okShellz) May 5, 2021
Kilmeade should learn to not argue with people who are smarter than him.
— Marks Molnārs (@Rad1cody) May 5, 2021
As seen lately, some Trump supporters have such strong reactions to anything negative about him that they can’t help but jump in. Kilmeade’s squabble with Mason is not just a one-time thing. Over the years, Trump has been criticized for his handling of the pandemic. While Biden promoted masks and vaccinations, Trump often said things that made people scratch their heads, like when he suggested that the virus might “just go away.”
The numbers tell the story. By January 2021, the U.S. had over 20 million COVID-19 cases and more than 350,000 deaths. If Trump had a magic wand, those numbers might have been lower. Critics argue that Trump’s leadership style is more about arguing than listening. This shows in how he and his supporters react to anyone who disagrees with them. The episode with Kilmeade and Mason Seder highlights a bigger problem: grown-ups often forget to listen to kids, who have smart ideas too.
As we approach the 2024 elections, it’s important for leaders to listen, learn, and have respectful conversations. Arguing with a sixth-grader is not only unprofessional, but it also shows that someone might need to take a break. We should encourage kids like Mason to share their thoughts without fear of being shut down because today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders. Who knows? They might have better ideas than some of the adults in charge right now!
Featured image via Screengrab
