With only one strike left before his right-wing channel is permanently banned from YouTube, Alex Jones scrambled Tuesday to get in the good graces of 18-year-old Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg.
A Twitter exchange between the InfoWars host and student activist ended when Hogg declined an invitation from Jones for an on-air debate.
Jones’ channel received two strikes from YouTube last week after posting conspiracy videos about the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Hogg, in particular, was accused of being a “crisis actor” in a now-deleted video called “David Hogg Can’t Remember His Lines In TV Interview.”
In the wake of the shooting that killed 17 people at his school, Hogg has been one of the most outspoken Florida students in the youth-led movement calling for gun control. Most recently, Hogg encouraged spring breakers to boycott the state Florida. His activism has made him a target for right-wing conspiracists who have also accused him of being an FBI plant and a 26-year-old felon (both accusations are false).
But Hogg hasn’t stood down, and on Tuesday the teen put Jones on blast for spreading conspiracies.
Hey Alex Jones you seem to be really confused as to what I do/who I am I'd love to come on and clear some of this up because clearly as a shit journalist you can't clearly.
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) February 27, 2018
I might not be great with spelling or punctuation but unlike Jones do my research and don't sell snake oil to the masses. #Jonesbrandsnakeoil
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) February 27, 2018
When your snake oil only makes you THICC 45 days later #jonesbrandsnakeoil pic.twitter.com/UoM9Gi2zUT
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) February 27, 2018
Jones, who also once said the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook never happened, responded by imploring Hogg to “stop the defamation” and come on his show to “clear up some of the disinformation.”
Hi David, it would be fantastic for you to come on. I would be very thankful for that. I want to set the record straight and clear things up between you and I. https://t.co/uHeDxX7Ir8
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
@davidhogg111 Also I have never been sued by survivors of any school shooting. Please stop the defamation. My YouTube channel with 2+ billion views has now been frozen after CNN lobbied for it to be closed in your name.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
@davidhogg111 DM me your email and my producer will set you up. Thank you.
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
Jones also posted a video asking if Hogg was just trying to “bait” him into being rude—and to bait the teen into agreeing to a debate on Jones’ show.
Alex Jones Challenges @DavidHogg111 to a Debate pic.twitter.com/8Rob0dOmmt
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
Hogg declined the invitation, saying he would “not speak to anyone that has had disgusting remarks to victims of mass shootings in the past.” Ditching his ingratiating tone, Jones responded that Hogg was “bullying and viciously attacking” him.
David Hogg challenged me to a debate by bullying and viciously attacking me. After I politely accepted, he backed out when his real goal of baiting me failed. Only #HoggWash fears investigation
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) February 27, 2018
With the fate of his YouTube channel hinging on a single strike, it seems Jones will have to find another way to “set the record straight.”