Shepard Smith wasn’t buying the White House’s talking point that a coalition of Middle Eastern nations will lead the fight against the Islamic State, and he put up a pretty hefty wager that he was right.
When press secretary Josh Earnest hinted that countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan may accept the role of leading a coalition, the Fox News host thought otherwise: “There will be no commitment from those two on this — I will bet every penny I will ever make at this network,” Smith said on Thursday.
Earnest was taken aback by Smith, who is reportedly worth about $20 million. “It’s a big bet, and it’s a good bet because it’s not going to happen and the whole world knows it,” the host said.
“To suggest that these people, with great respect, from Syria, who are not organized and the Pentagon says will take a year to train, and the Iraqi army, which is already folded and given away the weapons, are going to come together to fight ISIL for us and with us seems like, as the president once put it, something of a fantasy,” Smith argued.
Earnest simply responded that President Obama does not believe American forces on the ground are in the country’s best interest and will continue to work with nations in the region.
“Your mouth to God’s ears — hope it works, Josh,” said Smith, wrapping it up.
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