Watch: Fox News’ Gotcha Question To Firefighters’ Union Leader Flops

Fox & Friends is hardly a friendly venue for unions or Democrats, so when a the head of a union that’s just endorsed Joe Biden came on the show Monday morning, viewers could have expected a testy segment. Harold A. Schaitberger, President of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), not only defended his union’s decision to endorse the former vice president, but he made his interviewer look unprofessional into the bargain.

Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade seemed torn between his respect for firefighters and his desire to criticize unions. Kilmeade was champing at the bit to attack the IAFF for endorsing a Democrat. His tactic: accusing the union of using union dues to support a candidate its members don’t support.

“So you represent 316,000 full time firefighters across the U.S. You realize, of course, many of those firefighters, some of which I spoke to before this segment, are all in for President Trump. Are you taking their dues and putting it towards Joe Biden?” Kilmeade said.

“Let me tell you about our union. We have a union that is a perfect reflection of the political landscape in this country,” Schaitberger responded. “We have Republicans. We have Democrats. We have independents, we have conservatives. We have progressives. Our job as a union is to support the candidate that supports the issues that enhance their careers. Their professions. Their economic future. That’s our role.”

“Are you using their dues? For Joe Biden?” Kilmeade asked again, clearly eager to frame this as a ‘gotcha’ question that would discredit the endorsement in some way.

“Our role is to represent all of them in their profession,” Schaitberger replied.

“Right. Are you using their money to support Joe Biden?” Kilmeade pressed.

“We’re using the money that those that choose to contribute to our political PAC, we use on their behalf in the political arena. Those that choose to make those contributions.”

Despite clearly explaining that the IAFF isn’t using union dues to support Biden, but rather runs a PAC based on voluntary contributions, Kilmeade wouldn’t let the issue go.

“Just one last question. If someone calls you – if one of your members calls you today and says do not use my dues to support Joe Biden, what will you do?”

“I will say that our political resources are those that come from our members who voluntarily contribute to our political operation. Not your dues.”

Kilmeade seemed disappointed not to have landed his intended blow, but praised the firefighters for their work.

Watch the video above, via Fox News.