A CNN guest and former MSNBC host was caught in a moment of cringeworthy silence after implying President Trump wasn’t in charge of the US military.

A segment on NewsNight with Abby Phillip took an uncomfortable turn after cultural critic Touré mentioned the Trump administration’s ‘control of the military’ during a rant about the president’s moves in the White House.

‘Yes. Commander-in-chief. Head of the military,’ Jennings interjected matter-of-factly.

‘This is what you do in a dictatorship,’ Touré said in summarizing his statement.

‘Are you suggesting that the president is not the commander-in-chief of the military?’ Jennings asked quizzically, seizing on the frequent CNN guest’s gaffe.

‘I’m suggesting that the president is going to put in charge somebody who is going to contravene the Constitution,’ Touré responded. 

‘And at some near point, this conversation will look very silly for you because it will be obvious. And right now, you’re gaslighting.’ 

Jennings, the show’s lone conservative panelist, repeated Touré’s statement back to him before stunning the guest into silence.

A segment on NewsNight with Abby Phillip took an uncomfortable turn after cultural critic Touré mentioned the Trump administration’s ‘control of the military’ during a rant about the president’s moves in the White House 

‘I’m suggesting that the president is going to put in charge somebody who is going to contravene the Constitution,’ Touré said during the exchange

‘He’s going to put someone in charge who will contravene the Constitution – but who? What do you mean by that?’ Jennings prodded. ‘The president is in charge of the military, is he not? You said he’s going to put someone in charge – of the military?’ 

The awkward exchange led host Abby Phillip jup in: ‘The president is in charge of the military. That is how it works’

‘He’s going to put someone in charge who will contravene the Constitution – but who? What do you mean by that?’ Jennings prodded.

‘The president is in charge of the military, is he not? You said he’s going to put someone in charge – of the military?’ 

The stinging retort led Phillip to jump in.  

‘The president is in charge of the military,’ she said. ‘That is how it works.’

The awkward exchanged garnered plenty of attention with viewers.

‘@Toure, bro…you really didn’t know the President was the commander in chief? Come on man,’ one commented on X.

‘He might be the dumbest person they’ve let on yet, and that’s saying something,’ another added.

‘Dude if you don’t know that the President controls the military then you need to wear a helmet while walking around,’ a third piled on.

‘These bits are incredibly painful to watch. Where do these folks get these ideas?’ yet another chimed in.

‘I kind of enjoy it. Reminds me of watching car crashes,’ a user added.