Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly has never been shy about his opinions.
But he just caught everyone off guard.
And Bill O’Reilly blindsided Americans with this shocking claim about diversity.
O’Reilly socks conservatives with pro-diversity stance
During NewsNation’s “First 100 Days” town hall on Wednesday, the former Fox News host made headlines with his unexpected take on diversity and inclusion – hot button topics that have divided Americans since President Trump took decisive action against DEI programs in his first days in office.
“I’m fine with diversity, okay?” O’Reilly told former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon during the broadcast. “I agree with [James] Carville on diversity. It’s a strength.”
The statement raised eyebrows among many conservatives who have championed President Trump’s executive order terminating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” discrimination in the federal workforce.
But O’Reilly didn’t stop there.
“And I’m fine with inclusion,” he continued. “I think everybody should have an equal pathway to pursue happiness.”
However, O’Reilly drew a clear line when it came to the third component of DEI policies.
“I hate equity because equity then favors one group or gender over another,” O’Reilly declared.
He then pivoted to align himself with the President’s position on the issue.
“Donald Trump, the president, was very clear on NewsNation tonight that he does not want that. That if you are going to be admitted to a school or accepted for a job, you do it on merit, not on gender or skin color,” O’Reilly stated.
Bannon, a key architect of Trump’s America First agenda, quickly responded to O’Reilly’s comments.
Bannon agrees
“I agree with him 100%. 100%,” Bannon replied.
Stephen A pressures Bannon on DEI, O’Reilly interrupts. pic.twitter.com/dNXJof0vK6
— Stephen A. 2028 Fans (@SASForPres) May 1, 2025
The former White House strategist then highlighted President Trump’s record of supporting historically Black colleges and universities.
“Also, but hang on, he also went out of his way to make sure that historic Black colleges and universities were well-financed and had a sound financial footing, right? So people get opportunities and get access to college,” Bannon noted.
“President Trump has gone out of his way to do that. President Trump is somebody for every American. It’s about being an American citizen, and he’s fighting for that every day,” Bannon concluded.
The exchange took place during a town hall where O’Reilly interviewed President Trump alongside NewsNation host Chris Cuomo and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, with the President calling in remotely.
O’Reilly’s comments come at a time when President Trump has made dismantling DEI programs a cornerstone of his administration’s policy.
Within days of taking office, President Trump signed an executive order terminating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” discrimination in the federal workforce, and in federal contracting and spending.
The administration has emphasized that “every man and woman should have the opportunity to go as far as their hard work, individual initiative, and competence can take them.”
O’Reilly’s nuanced take on diversity and inclusion while rejecting equity may represent an attempt to reframe the conversation around merit-based opportunities rather than abandoning the concepts altogether.
The comments highlight the ongoing debate within conservative circles about how to address issues of opportunity and fairness while rejecting policies that create different standards based on immutable characteristics.
As President Trump continues implementing his agenda to Make America Great Again, these conversations about the future of diversity, inclusion, and merit-based systems will likely remain at the forefront of policy discussions.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
