In a live broadcast that quickly spiraled into an internet spectacle, Fox News national security contributor Rebekah Koffler appeared visibly intoxicated during an interview Saturday evening—prompting producers to cut her segment short and sparking new criticism of the network’s editorial oversight.
Koffler, a Russian-born former CIA officer and frequent Fox News guest, was brought on to respond to backlash over President Donald Trump’s military parade through Washington, D.C. But instead of sober analysis, viewers were met with slurred speech, offbeat laughter, and an increasingly incoherent monologue.
“I am so excited, uh, Emily and… Lucas Tomlinson!” Koffler exclaimed with a wide, unsteady smile, surprising even her hosts, who exchanged awkward laughs as she continued.
Despite her slurred delivery and repeated digressions—including mispronouncing “Donald” as “Dolland” and oddly praising the correspondents by name—producers let the segment continue for over a minute before finally cutting her audio.
The incident was further compounded by a now-deleted tweet Koffler posted before her appearance, jokingly suggesting she was drinking champagne while waiting for her interview slot.
“Refilling my #champagne glass while waiting for my hit! 🇺🇸” she wrote, noting that her segment had been delayed due to President Trump’s extended speech.
The tweet has since circulated widely online, reinforcing public speculation that the intoxicated behavior was not accidental but preventable.
Koffler, who served in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, once briefed senior U.S. officials on threats to national security. Today, she is a regular contributor to Fox News and conservative publications such as the New York Post, Daily Caller, Newsweek, and the Washington Times.
The viral moment has quickly become a new talking point for critics of Fox News, already grappling with internal tension over its coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict. Just days earlier, Fox host Mark Levin publicly clashed with former colleague Tucker Carlson, accusing him of antisemitism for criticizing pro-interventionist rhetoric. The dispute has exposed rifts inside the conservative media world, particularly within the MAGA-aligned base.
Now, with a national security expert’s credibility in question and an embarrassing live segment immortalized on social media, Fox News finds itself once again on the defensive.
Fox News brings on Rebekah Koffler to talk about the military parade, but she seems to be heavily intoxicated so they cut away with quickness pic.twitter.com/QIbMAG4OL3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 15, 2025
