Trump sex allegations: Newt Gingrich loses his cool on air with Fox anchor Megyn Kelly as America watches

NEW YORK, U.S. - Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly got into a heated showdown on Tuesday night, with the former accusing Kelly of being fascinated with sex, to which she retorted, "I’m not fascinated by sex. But I am fascinated by the protection of women …”

Gingrich, who is Donald Trump's adviser, dismissed the recent polls, according to which Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton has a clear edge over her rival. 

The polls are just another example of the mainstream media’s “alternate universe,” he declared.

The former speaker of the House lost his cool when the Fox News host suggested Donald Trump was on the back foot after a 2005 recording surfaced in which he said he has groped women and forcibly kissed them. Several women have since come forward with claims of sexual harassment against the Republican nominee.

Gingrich questioned the stories of women, and the undue coverage given to the whole controversy, relative to Hillary Clinton's alleged misdeeds and the leaked emails.

Kelly responded, “As a media story, we don’t get to say that 10 women are lying. We have to cover that story, sir.”

To which Gingrich replied, “Sure. Okay. So, so it’s worth 23 minutes of the three networks to cover that story, and Hillary Clinton had a secret speech in Brazil to a bank that pays her 225,000 [dollars], saying her dream is an open border where 600 million people could come to America — that’s not worth covering …”

“That is worth covering,” interjected Kelly. “And we did.”

Things got particularly nasty when Kellly began, "If Trump is a sexual predator..." 

Trump surrogate Gingrich in a loud voice lashed out at the anchor, “He’s not a sexual predator! You can’t say that. You could not defend that statement. I’m sick and tired of people like you using language that’s inflammatory that’s not true,” pointing at Kelly. In a shocking comment, he then told the host, “You are fascinated with sex and you don’t care about public policy.”

“You know what, Mr Speaker? I’m not fascinated by sex. But I am fascinated by the protection of women and understanding what we’re getting in the Oval Office,” Kelly retorted.

Seeking to deflect attention from Trump's scandals, Gingrich then brought up former U.S. President Bill Clinton's sexual misdeeds. "We’re going to send Bill Clinton back to the East Wing, because after all, you are worried about sexual predators,” he declared.

“Yeah, listen, it’s not about me,” Kelly replied. "It’s about the women and men of America. And the poll numbers show us that the women of America, in particular, are very concerned about these allegations and, in large part, believe that they are a real issue. And don’t dismiss the women …”

Gingrich interrupted, “…. Do you want to comment on whether the Clinton ticket has a relationship to a sexual predator?”

Kelly replied, “We on 'The Kelly File' have covered that story as well, sir. I will tell you, the polls …”

Gingrich again cut in, “No, I just want to hear you use the words. I want to hear you use the words ‘Bill Clinton, sexual predator.’ I dare you." 

“Say ‘Bill Clinton, sexual predator.’”

With the discussion spiralling out of control, Kelly decided to end the interview. "The American public is less interested in the deeds of Hillary Clinton's husband than they are in the deeds of the man who asks us to make him president, Donald Trump," she said. 

"We're going to have to leave it at that, and you can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them Mr. Speaker. Thanks for being here."

Gingrich responded: "And you, too. You, too."

Soon after, Gingrich posted a video of the exchange on Twitter, presumably hoping to get the upper hand, generating massive response on social media. 

Trump's campaign managers also took to Twitter to trash Kelly, claiming she "made a total fool out of herself tonight."

Kelly has a somewhat colorful history with the Trump campaign. 

In August last year, during the Republican primary race, she asked the presidential candidate a question on his remarks about women, including "fat pigs" to "dogs, slobs and disgusting animals." Trump later told CNN that Kelly had "blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever."