A SLIP OF NEWS ANCHOR'S TONGUE

Pat Kiernan flubs line, says Kayleigh McEnany tested positive for ‘cocaine’ 

 

By Natalie Musumeci 

 

New York Post

October 5, 2020

NY1 morning host Pat Kiernan really stepped on his lines Monday when he accidentally said that White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tested positive for “cocaine” — instead of COVID-19.

“Another member of Donald Trump’s inner circle testing positive for cocaine,” Kieran said during the Monday broadcast, according to an 8-second clip posted to Twitter by user @ZendelleP.

The veteran local newsman quickly corrected himself on the air and later apologized for the error on Twitter.

McEnany announced on Monday that she has tested positive for the killer bug and will begin the quarantine process.

The news comes as President Trump continues to be treated for COVID-19 at Walter Reed medical center after he and first lady Melania Trump tested positive last Thursday.

McEnany and Hope Hicks are among a number of current and former White House staffers and others close to the commander-in-chief who have been diagnosed with the virus in the past week.

“Do we need to change our reporting approach and just list the members of the inner circle who DON’T have COVID?” Kiernan tweeted following McEnany’s announcement.

Later, Kiernan tweeted, “Yes. COVID. There’s enough going on without adding another dimension. Apologies for the error,” in response to someone who tweeted at him, saying: “You just said she tested positive for Cocaine. What’s really on your mind Pat?!”

NY1 declined to comment to The Post regarding Kiernan’s botched report.

Meanwhile, some Twitter users found the matter humorous.

“Pat Kiernan on Spectrum News just misspoke and said that Kayleigh McEnany tested positive for cocaine lmfaooo,” tweeted @_thegoodonesgo.

In another tweet, the user said, “He corrected himself but that was absolutely hilarious.”

“I think the NY1 anchor Pat Kieran [sic] got it right the first time: ‘The WH Spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany tested positive for Cocaine,’” @hmorley29 tweeted.