As a journalist, Geraldo Rivera is supposed to report the facts. Sadly, the hosts of Fox & Friends werent willing to acknowledge them on Friday.

It happened during a discussion about Donald Trumps recent series of racist tweets telling four Democratic congresswomen of color that they should go back to other countries. Later this week, people at a Trump rally in North Carolina began chanting Send her back ! in reference to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the lawmakers Trump targeted.

Host Peter Hegseth claimed Trumps tweets couldnt have been racist since he never specifically mentioned anyones race in the tweets.

Hes talking about whether you love this country and appreciate it, Hegseth said. And if you dont appreciate it, dont love it, and dont want to work to make it better, you could consider going somewhere else.

Rivera didnt like Hegseths argument one bit.

What the hell! he exclaimed. Come on, Pete! This is their country, theyre citizens of the United States!

Rivera, a Puerto Rican who grew up in New York, then tried to school Hegseth about why phrases like send her back are so hurtful.

You cant say that to me! he said. Ive gotten into 10 streetfights based on that, saying to me, because Im Puerto Rican, Go back. ... Once you make nationhood and citizenship like that conditional on your political loyalties, youre on a very dangerous path here.

Yet it was a path Hegseth seemingly had no intention of leaving.

He continued to insist that Trumps comments werent referencing race, but the politicians lack of gratitude.

Rivera then pointed out that a lot of people arent grateful to be here.

He added: Gratitude is not a requirement of citizenship.

You can see the exchange below: