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Sparks Fly When Scott Jennings Calls Out CNN Panelist For Implying America Brought 9/11 On Itself

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Salem Radio Network host Scott Jennings clashed with former Clinton administration aide Keith Boykin Thursday after he claimed the United States brought the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on itself.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States military and the Israel Defense Forces had launched Operation Epic Fury in a video posted on Truth Social early in the morning of Feb. 28. Boykin claimed that the American operations against Iran could cause consequences in the future similar to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“I think there’s a third scenario, which is that no matter what happens with Iran and the United States, that there will be some sort of long-term consequences that we may not see in the next few weeks or months or years, but may come some decades later, just as we saw in 1979 with the Iran hostage crisis, which happened because of 1953 when we overthrew their democratically elected government, and the same thing happened when we saw 9/11. That was because of the United States’ involvement in the first Gulf War and had a long-term effect,” Boykin claimed, with Jennings responding, “You’re blaming the U.S. for 9/11?”

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Boykin and Jennings went back-and-forth, with Boykin denying that he said the United States had caused the deadly attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

“I’m saying that when we take actions across the world, that there are consequences that we don’t anticipate that can happen years later. And so when we wonder why people are coming after us and attacking us, it’s maybe because we’re attacking them,” Boykin claimed, with Jennings responding, “What did the first world trade… What was the cause of that one?”

“What was the cause of the first world trade center bomb?” former Republican Councilman Joe Borelli of New York City asked, with left-wing podcaster Leigh McGowan responding, “I think that’s irrelevant to this moment.”

After additional back-and-forth, Jennings pressed Boykin on his earlier comments. (RELATED: ‘President Trump Is Ending It’: Mike Waltz Erupts At NBC Host Over Iran Conflict)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft prepares to land at a base in the Middle East, Jan. 18, 2026. The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions at low altitude, day or night and in all weather. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonah Bliss)

“I just want to go back to 9/11 for a second. The idea that the United States had it coming is insane,” Jennings said, causing Boykin to respond, “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

After Boykin and McGowan tried to shout Jennings down, Jennings reminded them that people would be able to see what Boykin said for themselves.

“You said, we did something and that caused it,” Jennings said. “We’re going to roll the tape later.”