CNN viewers slammed Donald Trump's senior press representative, Healy Baumgardner, on Wednesday for a robotic interview that was instantly compared to a skit on Saturday Night Live.
During a segment about Trump's pledge to speak with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, CNN host Carol Costello asked Baumgardner what the candidate meant when he praised the dictator in January as "amazing" for killing his own family members.
"Well, I think top line, Mr. Trump's point is that he wants to keep an open dialog and repair relationships with world leaders," Baumgardner said.
"But what was he trying to say in January at his campaign rally?" Costello asked again.
"Well, I'm not going to speculate on what he meant specifically by those points, but generally he wants to have an open dialog to repair relationships with leaders throughout the world," Baumgardner repeated robotically.
At that point, The Blaze's Amy Holmes stepped in to answer the question.
"I think Donald Trump was trying to project strength," Holmes explained. "He's complimented Vladimir Putin in similar terms... I think what Donald Trump was trying to do is sound like a strongman himself."
"Healy, you can't give us any more guidance on this," Costello said, sounding slightly dumbfounded at Baumgardner's previous answer. "You are the senior press representative for Mr. Trump."
"I am, exactly," Baumgardner replied. "And what I'm telling you is that top line, you know, one of his biggest goals is to repair relationships with leaders throughout the world."
"Okay, then," Costello quipped.
While the CNN host let Baumgardner off easy, viewers on Twitter were not as kind.
Laughing so hard at @healybaum on @CNN. It's like an SNL skit! Where'd you find this Valley Girl @realDonaldTrump ?
— GolemOnTheShelf (@DanielBen_Del) May 18, 2016
@healybaum on @CNN cannot answer one question about #DonaldTrump. Is this what we can expect from #Trump press team? No transparency
— Pablo (@PabloTheDog1) May 18, 2016
Does she know anything thats going on? @healybaum #irobot #cnn @CarolCNN
— John Fern (@John_Fern) May 18, 2016
I bet @healybaum wants that interview back. Ouch. Talk about avoidance and not answering the actual questions.#SecondhandEmbarrassment @CNN
— Shippy (@ShipShippity) May 18, 2016
@realDonaldTrump leading relationships in the world is like Hannibal Lector leading your gynecological exam #Trump2016 @healybaum = dope
— Bob (@biosimilarbob) May 18, 2016
Is @healybaum the most incapable public relations rep? @CNN @CarolCNN
— Manny Gonzalez (@gonzalu) May 18, 2016
Good LORD. @healybaum is on @CarolCNN and she sounds totally programmed-crazy...what a shame. She's a real Repub turn off. Not authentic.
— Therra (@Therra) May 18, 2016
