‘The Five’ Co-Host Jessica Tarlov Facing Ripped For ‘Deranged’ Comments

Fox News' liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov stirred controversy with her remarks about Karen Pence’s interaction—or apparent lack thereof—with Melania Trump during former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

During an episode of “The Five,” Tarlov highlighted a particular moment when Karen Pence seemingly avoided eye contact or acknowledgment of the Trumps, calling it one of her “favorite moments” from the event. While Melania Trump maintained a poised and gracious smile, the apparent cold shoulder reignited discussions about the tensions between the Trump and Pence families.

“Two favorite moments, definitely [George] W. doing the little tummy pat on Obama, showing a real camaraderie between them. I thought that was very sweet. And the most interesting person to me was Karen Pence, who would not look up at Trump,” Tarlov stated during the discussion.

“She was head down, like, ‘If you think my husband should have been hanged for certifying the election results, I have no time for you,’” Tarlov added, referencing claims that then-President Trump supported the idea of ‘hanging’ his vice president.

However, this claim originally stemmed from former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who made the assertion “without providing further evidence,” as noted by ABC News. Trump has refuted ever expressing such sentiments.

Additionally, Hutchinson’s allegations that Trump attempted to ‘commandeer’ the presidential limousine from his Secret Service driver on January 6, 2021, have also been discredited.

“You know, Mike Pence obviously got up and shook hands, but that’s my take,” Tarlov concluded.

Her remarks sparked sharp criticism on social media. One user on X commented, “Admiring of disrespect for Trump.” Another mocked her language, saying, “Tummy pat? What is she, a toddler?” Another user chimed in with, “Long TDS,” seemingly blending “long COVID” with ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’

“Really? @FoxNews You think this content from the squeaky intellectually inferior woman is what we want to see? GAG. Melania was in a beautiful Valentino and Indiana Pence was small and mean,” another critic wrote.

One commenter observed, “Many Hoosiers agree with you. Karen Pence came across as classless in her (in)action. The display was noticeably disrespectful to the Trumps. What a judgmental, egotistical, hypocritical personality she must have. Meaningless … & apparently miserable. Why else act like that?”

“Jessica Tarlov says one of her favorite moments of the Jimmy Carter funeral was when Karen Pence wouldn’t look at Trump or Melania. What a deranged individual,” the johnny MAGA account posted.

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Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence addressed the moment on Friday, saying he “welcomed” his interaction with his former running mate when they met face to face for the first time in four years at the funeral.

The event’s broadcast captured several notable exchanges, including a moment when Obama and Trump spoke within earshot of Vice President Kamala Harris.

“The opportunity to speak to the president yesterday is something that I appreciated, I welcomed,” Pence told Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief Russell Moore during a podcast set to air Wednesday.

“I’ve really been blessed at how much I’ve heard from people around the country who saw [our] handshake and, in that handshake, saw some hope that we might be moving past those difficult days,” he continued. “That’s certainly my hope.”

Trump “greeted me when he came down the aisle. I stood up, extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he said, ‘Thanks, Mike,’” Pence recalled. “You’d have to ask my wife about her posture, but we’ve been married 44 years, and she loves her husband, and her husband respects her deeply.”