On Friday’s episode of “The Five,” Harold Ford Jr. challenged fellow co-host Judge Jeanine Pirro to throw away her iPhone after criticizing Apple CEO Tim Cook for helping China’s communist government thuggishly crush COVID protests.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

The explosive exchange between the two took place as people across China have taken to the streets to protest lockdowns. Apple evidently made the decision to assist the communist regime by disabling the airdrop feature on iPhones. It allows users to avoid leaving a digital paper trail when communicating with one another.

The move could ostensibly aid the Chinese government in capturing, torturing, or even killing protesters as it seeks to squelch unrest among citizens. Cook has been avoiding answering questions regarding the policy. When Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn asked him in DC repeatedly about it, Cook remained silent.

Vaughn put Cook on the spot on Capitol Hill as he walked down a hallway before meeting with Republican lawmakers on Thursday. Her colleague Jacqui Heinrich posted a transcript outlining Cook’s muted reactions in a tweet on Thursday. The video was then aired on Fox News a short time later.

“Mr. Cook. Do you support the Chinese people’s right to protest?” Vaughn asked and got no answer.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

“Do you have any reaction to the factory workers that were beaten and detained for protesting COVID lockdowns?” she continued and still got no answer.

“Do you regret restricting airdrop access to protesters used to evade surveillance from the Chinese government?” Vaughn asked to the sound of crickets.

“Do you think it’s problematic to do business with the Communist Chinese Party when they suppress human rights?” she continued putting Cook on the spot. He still didn’t answer.

Tim Cook on the Hill, via @hillary__vaughn: pic.twitter.com/4Fldolz69A

— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) December 1, 2022

Pirro lauded Vaughn as her “hero” before eviscerating Apple for endangering Chinese citizens who are defying the government’s mandate that they stay locked in their homes.

“It’s all about the money for them,” Pirro accused before she heaped praise on “Chief Twit” Elon Musk for promising transparency and accountability from Twitter now that he’s in charge.

Co-host Jesse Watters had asked Ford about Cook’s silence on the matter and asserted that Cook should have prepared an answer for the inevitable question.

“I think it’s unfair to put the onus of the burden on one CEO,” Ford responded before he called for a “reset” in relations between the U.S. and China.

I wish somebody loved me the way Tim Cook and Apple loves China.

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) November 30, 2022

Then he turned to Pirro and dared her to ditch her iPhone, “If you really feel as strongly as you do, and I believe you do, you should stop wearing – devouring food – things that were made in China.”

She contended that Cook has a responsibility to China’s people.

Ford admitted that Cook should have answered Vaughn’s questions because it made him look bad. But he made it clear he doubted Pirro’s outrage was sincere.

“Throw your Apple away – throw away your phone,” he challenged. “Throw away your Apple!”

Pirro shot back that chucking your iPhone was not the answer to Apple aiding and abetting the communist regime.

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