Youngkin Shuts Down Reporter’s Attempt To Politicize Fentanyl Awareness

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin delivered a sharp rebuke to an NPR reporter attempting to drag former President Trump into a discussion on fentanyl overdoses. The incident occurred at the "It Only Takes One" event, a community outreach initiative aimed at combating addiction, where Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin emphasized the administration's commitment to tackling the fentanyl crisis.

The confrontation unfolded when Brad Kutner, a reporter for NPR affiliate WVTF, tried to suggest that fentanyl overdoses peaked during Trump’s presidency, despite the borders being "supposedly closed." His attempt to shift the narrative quickly backfired as Youngkin refused to let the reporter play politics with such a critical issue.

• A Focus on Victims: Youngkin, clearly agitated by the reporter's attempt to politicize the event, responded forcefully. “Their children lost their lives, they lost it due to fentanyl, they lost it because it was poisoned,” Youngkin stated, highlighting the devastating impact fentanyl has had on families across Virginia. He pointed out that fentanyl is pouring across the border and underscored the failure of the Biden administration to secure the border as a key factor in the crisis.

• The Data Debate: When Kutner attempted to counter with claims that overdoses peaked under Trump and declined under Biden, Youngkin dismantled the argument. He referenced data from the National Institutes of Health showing that while Virginia might have seen a decline, fentanyl overdoses nationwide continued to rise through 2021 and 2022 under Biden’s watch. Youngkin, armed with a background in mechanical engineering and business, even questioned the reporter’s grasp of statistics, making it clear that the reporter’s premise was flawed.

• Defending Against Political Attacks: Throughout the exchange, Youngkin remained resolute in his stance that fentanyl's spread is directly tied to the failure to secure the border, a situation that has worsened under Biden’s administration. He dismissed the reporter’s attempt to shift the blame, asserting that “anybody who tries to suggest differently is trying to make a political excuse for a failed administration in Washington.”

This confrontation highlights a broader issue: the persistent attempt by some in the media to politicize every aspect of the nation's challenges, even those as serious as the fentanyl epidemic. Governor Youngkin’s firm stance serves as a reminder that the focus should remain on protecting Americans and holding those responsible for the crisis accountable, rather than scoring political points.

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