Donald Trump's allies at Fox News were aghast at the performance by his defense attorney Bruce Castor Jr. on the first day of the former president's second impeachment trial.
They joined senior Republicans and other critics Tuesday in rounding on Castor's opening remarks, which some compared to an improvisation.
Reports indicated that Trump himself, watching the trial from his post-White House home in Florida, was enraged by the performance.
Sean Hannity, a friend and informal advisor to Trump who used to his show to advocate Trump's policies, interviewed the other attorney leading Trump's impeachment defense, David Schoen, on his show Tuesday night and pressed him on Castor's presentation.
Laura Ingraham applauds Hannity for pressing David Schoen on getting rid of Bruce Castor.
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 10, 2021
"It was terrible!"pic.twitter.com/IzJ7YPodEH
"A lot of criticism of the opening — not your part in particular, but it seemed to be free-associating, extemporaneous, somewhat meandering," Hannity said.
Schoen defended his colleague, telling Hannity that Castor had not planned on delivering opening remarks and that he was "sure" Castor's law firm would "be very well prepared in the future and do a great job in the case."
When Hannity later handed over to Laura Ingraham, another prominent Trump ally on the network, the two hosts mocked Castor.
"A little meandering, a little free-associative," Hannity said of Castor's arguments.
Ingraham was more forthright: "Well, it was terrible."
"You're way too charitable," she told Hannity.
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