CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu engaged in a tense on-air change Tuesday, culminating in a comment from Cooper that rapidly went viral: “Don’t be a d–k.”
The heated dialogue occurred throughout a CNN panel analyzing Elon Musk’s current Oval Workplace press convention with President Trump.
Musk, who has been performing as a casual adviser who heads the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), used the briefing to spotlight what he claimed had been cases of extreme and mismanaged federal spending.
Sununu defended Musk’s claims, arguing that they make clear longstanding issues about authorities waste and corruption.
Through the dialogue, Sununu identified that Musk had provided “specific examples off the top of his head of where the corruption and fraud were,” together with the declare that Social Safety funds had been nonetheless being paid to an individual who had allegedly been useless for 150 years.
Cooper, nevertheless, pushed again, criticizing Musk for failing to offer any supporting proof.
“He didn’t present any actual evidence,” Cooper stated, emphasizing that Musk’s statements lacked verification.
Sununu countered by questioning whether or not Cooper anticipated Musk to “come in with 10,000 pages” of paperwork to again up his claims.
The dialog escalated additional when Cooper tried to shift the dialogue to the Trump administration’s current firing of 4 Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) staff.
The staff had been dismissed over allegations that they used federal funds to accommodate migrants in New York Metropolis inns.
Musk had additionally weighed in on the controversy, posting on X (previously Twitter) that FEMA had spent $59 million to place immigrants in “luxury” inns.
Sununu seized on Cooper’s remarks.
“You’re talking about the FEMA money that was abused for migrants. That was FEMA money for migrants. That’s OK now?” he requested.
Cooper, showing annoyed, shot again: “I’m not saying it’s OK. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Sununu pressed additional. “So, would you stop that? Would you stop that process?”
At that second, Cooper misplaced his endurance. “Don’t be a d–k,” he stated. “What I’m saying is the portrayal by him [Musk] is just not factually accurate.”
After the sharp change, Cooper later apologized to Sununu, acknowledging his tone had been inappropriate. “I was mean, I was rude to you,” he admitted.
Sununu, nevertheless, dismissed the slight, selecting to maintain the second lighthearted. “Are you kidding? I grew up with seven brothers and sisters — I’m a Sununu. I’m a former governor. You want to know what I’m normally called?” he joked.
He then added, “It’s post-8 o’clock. Have some fun on CNN.”
Cooper, nevertheless, remained agency. “I don’t wanna do that,” he responded.
A CNN spokesperson declined to remark.
When reached by The Publish, Sununu stated by way of e mail: “I’m from New Hampshire. It takes a lot more than that to offend me.”
“If anything I think it was great that Anderson got comfortable enough to have a political argument with me like any of my buddies would over a beer … but I still don’t think I’m getting an invitation to that New Year’s Eve party,” he quipped.
The incident comes as CNN’s editorial stance below new CEO Mark Thompson continues to attract consideration — significantly because the low-rated information community struggles to maintain up within the rankings race towards rivals Fox Information and MSNBC.
In response to studies, Thompson has instructed CNN journalists, together with Cooper and fellow anchor Jake Tapper, to keep away from “pre-judging” Trump.
Throughout a digital editorial assembly held earlier than the inauguration, Thompson reportedly emphasised the significance of staying impartial in political protection and discouraged community figures from revisiting previous controversies, together with Trump’s authorized battles.
He additionally urged reporters to keep away from expressing private outrage, marking a shift in CNN’s method to masking Trump and his continued affect on American politics.
Thompson not too long ago relegated anchor Jim Acosta to a midnight time slot — prompting the longtime Trump agitator to give up and launch his personal e-newsletter on the Substack platform.
CNN insiders slammed the transfer, accusing Thompson of jettisoning Acosta with the intention to curry favor with Trump.
