Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus Thursday beat up on CNN host Erin Burnett for pressing him on whether President-elect Donald Trump still believed in an outright Muslim ban despite later changing it to those only coming from countries linked to terrorism.
"He said repeatedly that there is no religious test," Priebus told Burnett. "And for you all to be coming back and re-litigating something that was — that is now five months old — is what the problem is in our country.
"The problem is we've got a full 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a week worth of cable stations that create these issues that don't exist, and then turn people against each other.
"If the media is so interested in America coming together, then they ought to do their job and quit stirring the pot where it shouldn't belong."
In December, Trump announced a full Muslim ban before qualifying it in July to those coming from areas with high levels of terrorism.
"You have Muslims in this country who are worried," Burnett told Priebus. "They are afraid.
"They are afraid of what will happen — and they are afraid."
The chairman then ripped into Burnett.
"Erin, listen: I think you are very good, but I'm very surprised that this is the conversation we're having," he began.
"Yesterday morning, he gave a speech about Americans coming together," Priebus added, referring to Trump's victory speech early Wednesday in New York. "And you are asking me now on Thursday whether he needs to do another.
"I mean, I'm not sure what you are asking for.
"He's the president for all Americans," he said. "He's made that very clear. We're making it clear.
"And to go back to old issues when they have been asked over and over again and have been answered by President-elect Trump, people need to understand that he understands.
"I know where his head and heart is," Priebus told Burnett. "He said it.
"So, just trust his own words."