Megyn Kelly of Fox News and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich

In an epic smackdown in the annals of political television, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich accused Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly of being “fascinated with sex,” daring her to say the words, “Bill Clinton, sexual predator” in the same sentence.

In heated discussion on “The Kelly File” Tuesday night, Gingrich, who is now a Trump adviser and surrogate, belittled questions about women who recently accused Trump of sexual wrongdoing in the wake of video of the Republican nominee bragging about kissing and touching women without their permission.

When Kelly used the term “sexual predator” to describe the accusations, Gingrich pointed his finger at the anchor and said, “I am sick and tired of people like you using that language. That is inflammatory, that is not true.”

“When you use the words, you took a position, and I think it is very unfair of you to do that, Megyn,” Gingrich added. “I think that is exactly the bias people are upset by.”

See the confrontational interview:

“I think that your defensiveness on this may speak volumes, sir,” Kelly fired back.

“Let me make my point … If Trump is a sexual predator, then it’s a big story. And what we saw on that tape was Trump saying himself he likes to grab women by the genitals and kiss them against their will. That’s what we saw. Then we saw 10 women come forward after he denied actually doing it.”

Gingrich claimed the national news media are spending far too much time on the recent Trump scandal while largely ignoring WikiLeaks’ release of emails from the campaign of Democrat Hillary Clinton.

“You are fascinated with sex and you don’t care about public policy,” Gingrich said.

“Me, really?” Kelly asked.

“That’s what I get out of watching you tonight,” Gingrich said.

Kelly responded: “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.”

Gingrich noted, “And therefore we’re gonna send Bill Clinton back to the East Wing because, after all, you were worried about sexual predators.”

He continued pummeling Kelly: “Do you want to comment on whether the Clinton ticket has a relationship to a sexual predator?”

“I just wanna hear you use the words. I wanna hear the words, ‘Bill Clinton, sexual predator.’ I dare you. Say ‘Bill Clinton, sexual predator.’”

Kelly stressed that her program has covered the Clinton scandals, interviewing the likes of Kathleen Willey, one of several women who claim former President Bill Clinton sexually abused them.

At the close of the interview, Kelly outright stated that Gingrich had to deal with his “anger issues.”

“We’re gonna have to leave it at that, and you can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them, Mr. Speaker,” she concluded.

“And you, too,” Gingrich responded.

Reaction on social media is flooding in, with most people siding with Gingrich and criticizing Kelly:

• She’s so biased against Trump. Actually, quite sad. She went after both [Mike] Pence and Newt tonight, but Newt put her in her place! She was HOSTILE. (Connie Hammond)

• Sick of Megan Kelly … she is so brainwashed by [Hillary Rodham Clinton] and has joined the lies and corruption of the Clinton machine. She has turned so biased and angry, that she certainly should not be informing people of the news. But it is not news any more, but more like Clinton propaganda. (Jane Peeler Sawyer)

• She is a disgusting pig. Megan, strong women are not insulted by Donald Trump. You try to speak for women, but you have NO Right! You should be FIRED from Fox. You are a Liberal … It is disgusting the way you constantly put Mr. Trump down. You have a personal vendetta against Trump. You are nothing. Maybe CNN will hire you, after all that is where you belong. Bimbo. (Debbie Fauble)