Chris Cuomo, during his show on NewsNation Wednesday, took aim at former network CNN. He accused President Donald Trump of getting caught up in partisan theatrics amid ongoing debates over the effectiveness of U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Cuomo’s remarks came while he was hosting Bill O’Reilly, where they discussed the repercussions of a leaked intelligence report. This report suggested that recent strikes might only delay Iran’s nuclear ambitions for a handful of months, rather than years.
“I think CNN is trying too hard to go toe-to-toe with these Pod Brothers and those who thrive on sensationalism for profit,” Cuomo stated.
“We often become entangled in propaganda games,” he added.
Trump dismissed the media coverage as “fake news,” with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also disputing the leaked report during a Thursday press conference.
“The Iranian nuclear site has been taken out,” Hegseth remarked, emphasizing that initial intelligence is usually “almost always wrong, almost always incomplete.”
O’Reilly weighed in, claiming CNN was downplaying the strike’s impact.
“There’s been no serious investigation under the mountains. The Iranians can’t even do that since the mountains could collapse on them,” he said.
“There are no credible reports indicating significant damage caused by U.S. airstrikes—just vague statements from a few anonymous sources,” he continued.
The former Fox News host criticized CNN’s editorial decisions, suggesting they reflect a broader decline in journalism standards.
“That’s absurd. Competent journalists wouldn’t have published that piece. CNN is more focused on portraying Trump negatively than on offering factual news,” O’Reilly asserted.
“The journalism industry globally is at one of its lowest points ever,” he added.
Cuomo echoed concerns about the media’s current direction, suggesting that news outlets are chasing sensational stories to keep up with internet dynamics.
However, he did contest some of O’Reilly’s arguments, particularly regarding the importance of anonymous sources.
“Trump raises questions because he believes everything’s gone, and he seeks criticism,” Cuomo reasoned. “But without anonymous sources, both of our careers would be a lot less informed about what happens in powerful circles.”
Although Cuomo was let go from CNN in 2021, he still expressed admiration for many of the journalists there and noted a perceived ideological bias.
“I’ve been fired, yet I truly respect the hard work of my former colleagues and miss many of them,” he said.
He mentioned, “They seem to focus only on what’s happening in the left sphere. It’s as if there are no more Democrats or Republicans—only extremes now.”
A CNN representative responded, stating, “CNN has provided a comprehensive report on early assessments regarding recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which have also been confirmed by other news organizations. The White House recognizes the assessment, and their statements are part of our story.”
Cuomo’s exit from CNN occurred in December 2021 after it became known that he leveraged his media connections to assist his brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in handling sexual harassment allegations.
In another context, news anchors recently criticized Democrats after socialist candidate Zoran Mamdani defeated them in the New York City mayoral primary. They accused the party of embracing extreme views, suggesting the Democrats were “dead,” and criticized Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calling her a “disruptive force” in the party while expressing skepticism about her popularity.
