Colbert slams Cuomo on America ‘never that great’ comment: ‘That is the dumbest thing you could say as a politician’

Stephen Colbert slammed New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) for saying America “was never that great” this week, declaring on his CBS late night talk show that the line was “the dumbest thing you could say as a politician.”

Colbert compared the line to saying “I hate my mother” during his opening monologue on Thursday night.

Cuomo made the comment during a speech on Wednesday, prompting an immediate backlash.

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“That is the dumbest thing you could say as a politician,” Colbert said. “That’s like closing your speech with, ‘Apple pie sucks, I’m lukewarm on the troops, and those stripes make the American flag look fat! Thank you, I hate my mother!’”

“Come on, America may have been through some rough patches, but we’ve also done great things,” the host added. “In World War II, we beat the Axis powers and ended Nazism — for several decades.”

Cuomo’s office later walked back the comment in a statement Wednesday afternoon. Cuomo’s spokeswoman said that he does believe America is great, but has yet to reach its “maximum potential.”

“The Governor believes America is great and that her full greatness will be fully realized when every man, woman and child has full equality,” said Dani Lever. “America has not yet reached its maximum potential.”

Cuomo is reportedly mulling a presidential run in 2020 and is currently locked in a gubernatorial primary race against actress and activist Cynthia Nixon (D).