CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Tuesday mocked President Trump for acting “like he was being cheated on” over Trump’s response to Fox News hosting a town hall for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“Oddly, the president seemed offended that this was even happening,” Cuomo said. “Like he was being cheated on.”
{mosads}The CNN host was referring to Trump lashing out at the news organization for its town hall event with the self-described democratic socialist. Trump also hit the network over its hiring of former interim Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Donna Brazile.
“So weird to watch Crazy Bernie on @FoxNews,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday. “Not surprisingly, @BretBaier and the ‘audience’ was so smiley and nice. Very strange, and now we have @donnabrazile?”
Cuomo placed an emphasis on Trump’s use of the word “we.”
“The president is referring to himself and Fox collectively in their hiring of the former DNC chair and CNN analyst now as a commentator on Fox,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo appeared as if he was stunned by the president’s rhetoric in a conversation with CNN host Don Lemon.
Lemon said Trump views Fox News as an extension of the Republican Party and of the White House.
“What was interesting to me, Mr. Cuomo, was that Bernie Sanders said a whole of lot things on Fox News that their viewers don’t hear,” Lemon said. “They’re going, ‘Wait, what are you talking about?’”
Lemon said Sanders was speaking “truth and facts to that audience.” Cuomo joked it was like “the end of ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude.’ “
The town hall with Sanders, one of the top contenders in the crowded 2020 Democratic presidential primary, received more than 2.55 million viewers, making it the most-watched town hall of this campaign cycle so far, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Trump’s fondness for Fox News has been documented in his regular tweets quoting guests on various shows and his numerous exclusive interviews with network personalities.
The president is known to have a close relationship with Fox News opinion host Sean Hannity, and his administration has hired multiple former network employees.
The Hill reported Tuesday that South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a fellow Democratic presidential candidate, is also in talks to appear in a Fox News town hall event.