Ben Carson, one of Donald Trump’s top campaign surrogates, had a pair of rather testy Friday morning exchanges on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

BBC anchor Katty Kay pressed Carson on whether he was accusing the women who said Trump forced himself on them of lying. Kay told Carson that accusations of lying are exactly why many women don’t come forward after assaults.

“That’s your characterization because you need to characterize it that way to make me the bad guy,” Carson said.

Kay then interjected, “No, no, no.” But Carson continued talking over her, “No, no, no. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.”

“Hey, can you turn her microphone off, please?” Carson asked. “Turn her microphone off so I can talk?” he added with a laugh.

Host Joe Scarborough then entered the discussion.

“It’s a simple question,” he told Carson. “Yes or no? Do you believe these women are lying or not? Nobody is trying to paint you as the bad guy. Straight talk.”

On Twitter, both Kay and Scarborough criticized Carson for calling for her mic to be cut:

I’m not sure that ordering the silence of a woman is a great way to win back women voters who are fleeing Trump. Just a suggestion. https://t.co/CCT5RSHIyd — Katty Kay (@KattyKayBBC) October 14, 2016





So depressing on so many levels and outrageous that he wanted @KattyKayBBC’s microphone cut off! https://t.co/3BVIv1ZtvU — Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) October 14, 2016





Trump’s campaign was rocked Wednesday when four women said the Republican presidential nominee either touched or groped them in separate incidents years ago. Trump has denied the allegations, which he said were part of a media conspiracy to elect Democrat Hillary Clinton.

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Carson, a former 2016 presidential candidate who endorsed Trump in the GOP primary, argued that the allegations against Trump were a distraction from the issues facing the country.

“It doesn’t matter whether they’re lying or not,” he said.

“Of course it matters!” Kay interjected.

“Listen, it doesn’t matter whether they’re lying or not,” Carson reiterated. “What matters is that the train is going off the cliff. We’re taking our eye off of that, and we’re getting involved in other issues that can be taken care of later.”

Carson and Kay continued to talk over one another again. “Do you guys have a plug, please?” Carson asked as he tried to get his point in.

Later in the same segment, Scarborough battled Carson over whether personal ethics should be set aside during a campaign for the presidency. When Carson began addressing “you people in the media,” Scarborough interrupted.

“Stop saying ‘you people.’ Stop saying ‘you people.’ You know what? Stop saying ‘you people.’ Why can’t you just give a straight answer?” Scarborough said as he and Carson talked over one another.

Watch below:

.@RealBenCarson says ‘It doesn’t matter’ if Trump accusers are ‘lying or not’, blames 'you people in the media’ https://t.co/gPlXpenpr9 — Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) October 14, 2016



