Ex-Trump adviser tells black Fox News guest he’s out of his ‘cotton-picking mind’

President Trump’s former deputy campaign manager, David Bossie, told a black Democratic strategist appearing on “Fox & Friends” on Sunday that he’s out of his “cotton-picking mind.”

Bossie and strategist Joel Payne got into a heated exchange about the rhetoric used in debating immigration and other issues during a discussion moderated by Fox News host Ed Henry.

The men were discussing former CIA Director Michael Hayden posting a photo of Auschwitz in reference to the Trump administration’s since-ended policy of separating immigrant families at the border when Bossie made the comment.

On Fox News, David Bossie, former Trump Deputy Campaign Manager, telling a black panelist that he’s “out of his cotton-picking mind.” pic.twitter.com/wpoqHKbINw

— Yashar Ali (@yashar) June 24, 2018

“That liberal Michael Hayden, that screaming liberal Michael Hayden,” Payne said.

“You’re out of your cotton-picking mind,” Bossie replied.

{mosads}

“Cotton-picking mind?” Payne interjected. “Brother, let me tell you something, I got some relatives who picked cotton and I’m not going to sit back and let you attack me on TV like that.”

“Attack you how? You’re out of your mind,” Bossie said.

“This is ridiculous, this is what’s gone on in America,” he continued. “This is what we’re about.”

Henry said after a commercial break that “Bossie used a phrase that clearly offended Joel Payne and offended many others.” Henry added that he didn’t know what Bossie meant by the phrase.

“But I want to make sure that Fox News and this show, myself, we don’t agree with that particular phrase,” Henry said. “It was obviously offensive and these debates get fiery, that’s unfortunate. We like to have honest and spirited debates, but not phrases like that, obviously.”

Bossie later apologized for the comment in a tweet, saying he should have “never used the offensive phrase that I did.”

In a statement to The Hill, a Fox News spokesperson called Bossie’s remarks “deeply offensive and wholly inappropriate.”

“David Bossie’s comments today were deeply offensive and wholly inappropriate,” the statement said. “His remarks do not reflect the sentiments of FOX News and we do not in any way condone them.”

During a heated segment on Fox & Friends today, I should have chosen my words more carefully and never used the offensive phrase that I did. I apologize to Joel Payne, Fox News and its viewers.

— David Bossie (@David_Bossie) June 24, 2018

–Updated 2:05 p.m.