CNN’s Chris Cuomo Blasts Trump for ‘Disrespecting’ Dead Journalists
The CNN host knows why the White House didn’t order flags lowered for the ‘Capital Gazette’ victims: ‘Because President Trump doesn’t like the media.’
CNN
In the final moments of his first primetime hour on Monday, CNN’s Chris Cuomo delivered a sharp rebuke of the Trump administration’s decision not to lower flags to half-mast in memory of the five journalists killed in last week’s mass shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland.
Cuomo began by noting that the shooting not only took lives and “shattered families” but also “added another layer of shame on all lawmakers for not doing something to stop the damn shootings.” As the host put it, recent mass shootings in Las Vegas and Parkland “warranted” flags being lowered outside federal building, so why not this one?
“I’m afraid I know the answer,” Cuomo said. “And it’s because President Trump doesn’t like the media.”
Why was the Mayor of Annapolis turned down by the White House on his request to lower flags to mark the lives of fallen journalists?
— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) July 3, 2018
.@ChrisCuomo: I am afraid I know the answer. Its because President Trump doesn’t like the media #CuomoPrimeTime https://t.co/8oj5vraNr2 pic.twitter.com/bmJ3Niti5a
Admitting that an explanation like that one “sounds extraordinarily petty and callous,” Cuomo pointed out that Trump mocked Sen. John McCain for getting captured in Vietnam and had nothing negative to say about a staffer who mocked McCain’s terminal illness earlier this year. “So Trump, unfortunately, is entirely capable of disrespecting people, no matter their predicament, if it suits him or his interests.”
“Yes, Trump did say he respects journalists after the mass murder, but why would you believe that?” Cuomo asked, referring to the president’s remarks on Friday. “Why would you believe he’s not lying again? I don't have time to play all the attacks on the media, you know the truth. And now you know that even if they get murdered, the president won’t respect the media appropriately.”
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Cuomo asserted that Trump chose not to order those flags lowered “because the families of the dead and the dead themselves don’t matter to Trump as much as his playing political favorites.”
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.