Fox News Channel host Brian Kilmeade apologised on Sunday for advocating for the execution of mentally ill homeless people in a discussion on the network last week, saying his remark was “extremely callous”.

A homeless and mentally ill man, Decarlos Brown Jnr, was arrested for murder, and the case received extensive attention on Fox following the release of a security video of the stabbing.

Jones was talking on Fox & Friends on Wednesday about public money spent on trying to help homeless people and suggested that those who did not accept services offered to them should be jailed.

“Or involuntary lethal injection, or something,” Kilmeade said. “Just kill ’em.”

Earhardt interjected: “Why did it have to get to this point?”

Kilmeade replied: “I will say this, we’re not voting for the right people.”