CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and former New Hampshire Governor 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–ok.”
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 advisor who heads the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), used the briefing to focus on what he claimed had been situations of extreme and mismanaged federal spending.
Sununu defended Musk’s claims, arguing that they make clear long-standing issues about authorities waste and corruption.
Throughout the dialogue, Sununu identified that Musk had provided “particular examples off the highest of his head of the place the corruption and fraud had been,” together with the declare that Social Safety funds had been nonetheless being paid to an individual who had allegedly been deceased for 150 years.
Cooper, nevertheless, pushed again, criticizing Musk for failing to supply any supporting proof.
“He didn’t current any precise proof,” Cooper mentioned, emphasizing that Musk’s statements lacked verification.
Sununu countered by questioning whether or not Cooper anticipated Musk to “are available 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) workers.
The staff had been dismissed over allegations that they used federal funds to deal with 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 “luxurious” inns.
Sununu seized on Cooper’s remarks.
“You’re speaking in regards to the FEMA cash that was abused for migrants. That was FEMA cash for migrants. That’s OK now?” he requested.
Cooper, showing pissed off, shot again: “I’m not saying it’s OK. Don’t put phrases in my mouth.”
Sununu pressed additional. “So, would you cease that? Would you cease that course of?”
At that second, Cooper misplaced his persistence. “Don’t be a d–ok,” he mentioned. “What I’m saying is the portrayal by him [Musk] is simply not factually correct.”
After the sharp change, Cooper later apologized to Sununu, acknowledging his tone had been inappropriate. “I used to be imply, I used to be impolite 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 wish to know what I’m usually known as?” he joked.
He then added, “It’s post-eight o’clock. Have some enjoyable on CNN.”
Cooper, nevertheless, remained agency. “I don’t wanna do this,” he responded.
A CNN spokesperson declined to remark. The Publish has sought remark from Sununu.
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 opponents Fox Information and MSNBC.
Based on reviews, 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 avoid expressing private outrage, marking a shift in CNN’s strategy to protecting Trump and his continued affect on American politics.
Thompson lately relegated anchor Jim Acosta to a midnight time slot — prompting the longtime Trump agitator to stop and launch his personal publication on the Substack platform.
CNN insiders slammed the transfer — accusing Thompson of jettisoning Acosta in an effort to curry favor with Trump.