Fox News host Jeanine Pirro is a favorite media personality of President Donald Trump, and the two New Yorkers enjoy a warm relationship. | Mike Theiler/AFP/Getty Images Media Fox News denounces Pirro comments on Omar

Fox News on Sunday night denounced remarks by host Jeanine Pirro this weekend suggesting that Rep. Ilhan Omar supports Sharia law in defiance of the U.S. Constitution because she wears a hijab.

“We strongly condemn Jeanine Pirro’s comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar," the network said in a statement. "They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly.”


Pirro's comments came on her weekly broadcast Saturday during a segment criticizing Omar, whose recent statements about Israel have provoked bipartisan repudiation and a House resolution condemning bigotry. Omar (D-Minn.) in 2018 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

“She’s not getting this anti-Israel sentiment doctrine from the Democrat Party. So if it’s not rooted in the party, where is she getting it from?” Pirro said. “Think about it. Omar wears a hijab, which according to the Quran 33:59 tells women to cover so they won’t get molested.

“Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution?” Pirro said.

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Pirro did not apologize in a statement Sunday night, insisting: "I did not call Rep. Omar un-American."

She added: "My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course because one is Muslim does not mean you don’t support the Constitution. I invite Rep. Omar to come on my show any time to discuss all of the important issues facing America today.”

Pirro’s remarks were swiftly rebuked Sunday on social media, with Bret Stephens, the conservative New York Times columnist, calling her “a disgrace” in a tweet .

“Ilhan Omar’s right to wear hijab in accordance with her religious convictions is as constitutional as an Orthodox Jewish woman's right to wear a sheitel,” Stephens wrote. “Anything less is un-American.”

At least one of Pirro’s Fox News colleagues took issue with the insinuation. Hufsa Kamal, who identifies herself online as a producer at the network, t weeted : “@JudgeJeanine can you stop spreading this false narrative that somehow Muslims hate America or women who wear a hijab aren’t American enough? You have Muslims working at the same network you do, including myself. K thx.”

Pirro is a favorite media personality of President Donald Trump, and the two New Yorkers enjoy a warm relationship. He regularly grants her interviews and has promoted her most recent book from the Oval Office. Pirro and fellow Fox News host Sean Hannity appeared onstage with Trump in November at his final campaign rally before the midterm elections.