Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK (AP) — Bill O'Reilly says the slaves who helped build the White House "were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government."
The Fox News commentator was responding to first lady Michelle Obama's remarks in her speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, when she praised social progress in the United States.
"I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves," Mrs. Obama said. "And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn."
O'Reilly said on his show Tuesday that "Michelle Obama is essentially correct in citing slaves as builders of the White House, but there were others working as well."
O'Reilly's comments have drawn criticism on social media.
O'Reilly on Wednesday tweeted that "far left loons" had distorted what he said about the first lady's statement. It wasn't clear what he considered distorted.
"She's correct and I provided facts," he said, promising to talk more about it on his show.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
