"Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt attempted to comfort victims of Sunday's church shooting in Texas by "trying to look at some positives" in their deaths.

Her comments attracted media attention and social media criticism, but Earhardt doubled down on her remarks on Monday, insisting that the victims' families should find solace in the fact that their loved ones were killed while in church.





"Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt sparked controversy on Monday morning — the day after the most deadly church shooting in US history — when she argued that it was a "positive" that the victims of Sunday's shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas were killed while attending church services.

"We've been reporting this shouldn't happen in a church," Earhardt said during an interview with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. But, she added, after discussing the attack with some of her Christian colleagues at Fox, they agreed that "there's no other place" they would want to go other than church.

"Because I'm there asking for forgiveness," Earhardt said.

"I feel very close to Christ when I'm there," she continued. "So, I'm trying to look at some positives here and know that those people are with the Lord now and experiencing eternity and no more suffering, no more sadness anymore."

Earhardt's comments raised eyebrows among some social media users, who called the remark insensitive and even "maniacal."

"This is some truly sick s---," writer Lisa McIntire tweeted.

But Earhardt, a devout Christian who often brings her faith into on-air conversations, doubled down on her comments in a statement to Business Insider on Monday.

"As any Christian would understand, I feel church is sacred. For me, it is the place I worship, where I learn about God and feel closest to Him each week," Earhardt said. "I meant no disrespect, as I have continuously said, the Texas families are in my thoughts and prayers. And, anyone who truly knows my heart, knows that about me."

And she defended her attempt to find a silver lining in the tragedy, arguing that the families in Sutherland Springs should be heartened to know that their loved ones were in church when they were killed.

"But, I do believe there can be positives in death," she said. "Christians believe death is when they enter into the afterlife — a place without pain, suffering and away from the evil that takes place on earth like we saw this past weekend. I know one day I will take my last breath and if I am in His 'house' when that happens, I pray my family can find a bit of solace and peace knowing that is where I saw Jesus for the first time. I pray for those families and the parents, children and loved ones who will be changed forever. I hope they cling to God during such a difficult time."

Watch the clip below: