Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce sorry for mocking autistic child

Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce apologized on Tuesday for mocking a 10-year-old autistic boy whose humorous interaction with Vice President Mike Pence last week went viral.

"I am so sorry to the family. My intention was never to hurt a kid and his mom," Bruce said Tuesday morning on America's Newsroom.

During an event for military families last week, Pence accidentally bonked the young boy, whose name is Michael, on the face, causing the kid to repeatedly ask the vice president for an apology.

One Pence heard Michael's request, he was gracious, leaning over and offering a heart-felt apology to the young child. The video of the interaction quickly went viral on social media, becoming the talk of morning shows across the country.

But that evening on Tucker Carlson Tonight, Bruce offered a different take on the uplifting video to guest host Bill Hemmer.

"I guess we're giving birth to snowflakes now, because that looked like that kid needed a safe space in that room," Bruce said, mocking the child for seeking an apology.

"He stalks the vice president, says, 'you owe me an apology,'" Bruce continued. "He's seen it either on television, maybe he's seen it at home perhaps, but he felt aggrieved because, I don't know, the vice president maybe slightly touched his nose."

Bruce's comments caused Bruce's mother, Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee, to blast the Fox News contributor, calling for an immediate apology.

"Please don't use kids. Whether they're typically developing kids — it doesn't matter that he's autistic or he's a military kid. Forget all that. He's a kid," Herrera-Yee told CNN's Jake Tapper. "And you don't use children as examples on national television like that."

"I get it and I apologize," Bruce said Tuesday morning. "A main lesson here, no matter intent, is to leave kids out of our political discussions. We certainly agree on this."

This isn't the first time Bruce has been called out for her comments towards children. In 2015, she was widely mocked for comparing being a transgender child to thinking you're a cocker spaniel.