Bill O'Reilly: Slaves that built White House were 'well-fed'

FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2015 file photo, Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel program "The O'Reilly Factor," poses for photos in New York. O'Reilly responded on his show Tuesday, July 26, 2016, to first lady Michelle Obama's remarks during her speech at the Democratic National Convention Monday that she wakes up "every morning in a house that was built by slaves." O'Reilly said the slaves who helped build the White House "were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government." (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2015 file photo, Bill O'Reilly of the Fox News Channel program "The O'Reilly Factor," poses for photos in New York. O'Reilly responded on his show Tuesday, July 26, 2016, to first lady Michelle Obama's remarks during her speech at the Democratic National Convention Monday that she wakes up "every morning in a house that was built by slaves." O'Reilly said the slaves who helped build the White House "were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government." (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

NEW YORK — Bill O'Reilly says the slaves who helped build the White House "were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government."

The Fox News commentator was responding to first lady Michelle Obama's remarks in her speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, when she praised social progress in the United States.

"I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves," Mrs. Obama said. "And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women playing with their dogs on the White House lawn."

O'Reilly said on his show Tuesday that "Michelle Obama is essentially correct in citing slaves as builders of the White House, but there were others working as well."

O'Reilly's comments have drawn criticism on social media.

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