The decision to install Megyn Kelly as part of NBC’s coverage of President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday is not sitting well with some at the network.
A source tells DailyMail.com that those involved in the special are horrified’ by the move and trying to get out of ‘working or appearing’ with Megyn.
The former Fox News host will be joining a line-up that includes Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, and Tom Brokaw, with appearances from NBC News chief White House correspondents Hallie Jackson and Kasie Hunt, 11-day White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci and Obama speechwriter David Litt.
‘Megyn announced publicly that she was done with politics,’ said the source, referencing the comment she made back in September about what she planned to cover on her NBC morning show.
‘No one knows what to talk with her about at the table for the coverage.’
NBC firmly denied these claims and one insider with knowledge of the situation said: ‘Not only is there zero truth to this, but everyone is genuinely excited to see her jump back into political coverage.’
That insider then championed the NBC lineup for Tuesday, stating that each host ‘brings something unique to the table.’
Ready for primetime: NBC staff members are ‘horrified’ that Megyn Kelly (above) will be part of the team covering the State of the Union for the network a source tells DailyMail.com
Co-hosts: She will be joining a line-up that includes Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie (above in April)
Kelly’s addition to SOTU coverage is no surprise, with NBC Chairman Andy Lack stating at the time of her hiring last January that who would be ‘an important contributor to NBC’s breaking news coverage as well as the network’s political and special events coverage.’
She was absent however from the network coverage of the midterm elections and has played no major role in covering any breaking news stories beyond those discussed during her hour-long episode of Today.
The network confirmed Megyn’s SOTU appearance around the same time it was revealed she would be staying back at 30 Rock with Kathie Lee Gifford and Jenna Bush Hager for the upcoming Winter Olympics while the rest of the Today team heads to PyongChang.
Tuesday will be a big test for Megyn as she appears on the panel, with over 50 million viewers expected to tune in for President Trump’s first official SOTU.
Megyn does have a solid working relationship with her five co-anchors on Tuesday, which should help the situation.
Both Holt and Brokaw have been spotted out with Megyn at events and the latter was also a guest on her hour of Today back in October.
She and Guthrie appear together approximately once a week on Today, with Megyn stopping by around 8:30am every few days for a segment or two while promoting her upcoming program.
Megyn appeared with Todd on Meet the Press back in June to discuss her interview with Vladimir Putin and he then appeared on her hour of Today last month to discuss Roy Moore losing the special runoff election in Alabama for the senate seat that was vacated after President Trump appointed Jeff Sessions as Attorney General.
Old friends: Megyn’s appearance will mark her first primetime showing on the network
Buddies: Megyn will appear alongside Tom Brokaw (above in November) who appeared on her Today program last year
She was also on Andrea Mitchell’s MSNBC program in October to discuss the Harvey Weinstein scandal and again in December to talk about three of the women who have accused President Trump of sexual misconduct.
Mitchell showed her support for the incoming anchor back in July when she championed the reporting being done by Megyn on her Sunday night news magazine in a July interview with WWD.
And Mitchell also defended Megyn against the man of the hour on Tuesday, calling pout President Trump back in August 2015 when he made his infamous remarks about a ‘bleeding’ Megyn following the first Republican presidential debate,
‘It’s insulting, it’s rude. he attacks the most popular star on cable TV,’ said Mitchell.