CNN’s Cuomo apologizes to families affected by 9/11 for airing Trump video

CNN host Chris Cuomo on Friday apologized for airing an edited video tweeted out by President Trump showing images of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers, a clip attempting to criticize Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

“I apologize to the families of the victims of 9/11 and people who were there that day,” Cuomo said before showing the video. “That video should not be used in political hit ads. I’m using it to make a point. I didn’t make the ad. If I thought about it more, I don’t think I’d even play the ad.”

“So, I apologize to you,” he continued. “I do not mean to revisit your nightmares. I’m sorry if that’s the effect it has.”{mosads}

Cuomo apologized again at the end of the segment and vowed not to show the clip again. 

“I don’t care if it’s positive about how far we’ve come since 9/11 — whatever it is. I’m not going to show those images of that day. I know what they mean to the families. This happened quickly with this video. I won’t do it again,” Cuomo said.

Trump tweeted out the edited video of Omar’s recent remarks about 9/11. Her comments that
“some people did something” — referring to 9/11 — are spliced between footage of the attacks. The words “September 11, 2001 We remember” appear at the end.

The clip, however, cuts off the end of Omar’s quote, in which she explained that many Muslims across the country were being improperly connected to the attacks. 

Cuomo showed Omar’s comment, made in March while speaking to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

“CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties,” she said.

CAIR was founded in 1994, but Omar’s office said she misspoke and meant to note that the organization doubled in size after the 2001 attacks.

The freshman lawmaker, who was one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, had faced a wave of conservative criticism over her remarks. 

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) slammed the comment as “unbelievable,” and “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade said on air, “You have to wonder if she’s an American first.”

Omar pushed back against their criticism and called it “dangerous incitement.”

“This is dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face. I hope leaders of both parties will join me in condemning it,” she tweeted alongside screen shots depicting the men’s remarks. “My love and commitment to our country and that of my colleagues should never be in question. We are ALL Americans!”

This is dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face. I hope leaders of both parties will join me in condemning it.

My love and commitment to our country and that of my colleagues should never be in question. We are ALL Americans! pic.twitter.com/foTZMpiZKv

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 10, 2019

Several Democratic presidential candidates also came to her defense on Friday after Trump hammered her over her 9/11 remarks.