Fox News host Bill O’Reilly admitted that his network’s viewers’ extreme hatred of President Obama isn’t exactly “rational.”

O’Reilly appeared on “Late Night” with host Seth Meyers this Wednesday night and praised the first African-American president for accomplishing so much against overwhelming odds. However, he cut short his praise by refusing to attribute any of America’s gains to Obama’s leadership and accomplishments.

When asked why his viewers held such low opinions of the president, O’Reilly said he thought it’s a simple matter of people being more emotion-based rather than thought-based.

“It’s all about emotion, you know, I don’t think it’s about rational thought. I think the people who like President Obama love him no matter what he does and they don’t like him — he could walk across Lake Huron and they wouldn’t like him. So, I don’t like that emotional evaluation of people. I know Barack Obama, I’ve interviewed him three times. I think he’s a patriot, I’ve said that.”

O’Reilly also discussed former co-worker Gretchen Carlson’s sexual harassment claims against his boss Rodger Ailes. While calling it a “very sad situation,” O’Reilly wasn’t referring to the women who were Ailes’ alleged victims.

“I’ve worked for Roger Ailes for 20 years,” O’Reilly told Meyers. “Best boss I’ve ever had. Straight shooter, always honest with me. And I believe that, over the years — he’s been in the business for 50 years, 95 percent of the people who have worked for Roger Ailes would say exactly the same thing that I just told you.”

Watch the video below, via Late Night with Seth Meyers (You can see more of the interview here):