Fox presenter didn't listen to African American congresswoman's anti-Trump speech because of her hair

A television host said he did not listen to a congresswoman’s outburst over Donald Trump because of her hair.

Bill O’Reilly Jr, the host of The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News, said he “didn’t hear a word” of Maxine Waters because of her “James Brown wig”.

The African American Democrat was stressing the importance of speaking out against the US President.

“I didn’t hear a word she said - I was looking at the James Brown wig,” said Mr O’Reilly.

Stalwart politician Ms Waters, a US House Representative since 1991 who became a California House representative in 1977, was explaining why Trump supporters are not patriotic.

The 78-year-old said: “When we fight against this president, and when we point out how dangerous he is for this society, and for this country, we are fighting for the democracy. We are fighting for America. We are saying to those who say they are patriotic, [who] turn a blind eye to the destruction that he is about to cause this country, ‘you are not nearly as patriotic as we are’.”

Mr O’Reilly was appearing on Fox & Friends, which the US President has repeatedly singled out as his current affairs programme of choice.

The TV personality has since apologised and said in a statement: “As I have said many times, I respect congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs.

"I said that again today on Fox & Friends calling her 'old school’. Unfortunately, I also made a jest about her hair which was dumb. I apologise.”

Presenter Eric Bolling, while on Fox & Friends in 2015, also responded to one of Ms Waters’ speeches by telling her to “step away from the crack pipe”.

Ms Waters told Mr Trump to "get ready for impeachment" last week.