CNN’s Cuomo tries to discredit Trump on overhearing conversations without speakerphone

CNN Chris Cuomo on Thursday tried to discredit President Trump’s claim about the difficulty in overhearing two sides of a phone conversation without a speakerphone with a live, on-air experiment.

“Very interesting theory from our president that he has really good hearing, some would say, the best hearing ever, and he’s never been able to hear a phone call when it wasn’t on speakerphone from anybody,” the veteran newsman said during CNN’s live coverage while the impeachment hearing was recessed before calling his mother.

“So, let’s just play with that for a second. Mom, can you hear me? All right. So if I were holding the phone here, I’m with Dana Bash, you know how you’re always telling me to let her talk because she’s so smart and I shouldn’t say so much,” he said, referring to Dana Bash, who serves as CNN’s chief political correspondent.

“Can you just say hello? Mom? She probably can’t hear me,” he added.

“Mom, can you hear me?” Cuomo asked again before putting the phone on speaker.

“Yes, I hear you. When you talk to me, I hear you,” Cuomo’s mother finally responded before Cuomo quickly pivoted away from the experiment.

Trump in an earlier tweet disputed testimony from impeachment inquiry witness David Holmes, a U.S. Embassy staffer in Kyiv, Ukraine, who said he could hear U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland during a conversation with the president that was not on speakerphone.

“I have been watching people making phone calls my entire life. My hearing is, and has been, great. Never have I been watching a person making a call, which was not on speakerphone, and been able to hear or understand a conversation. I’ve even tried, but to no avail. Try it live!” Trump tweeted.

I have been watching people making phone calls my entire life. My hearing is, and has been, great. Never have I been watching a person making a call, which was not on speakerphone, and been able to hear or understand a conversation. I’ve even tried, but to no avail. Try it live!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 21, 2019

Holmes testified before the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday that Trump’s voice was loud enough to overhear what he told Sondland in regards to Ukraine.

Cuomo’s experiment also stirred blowback on social media.

Chris Cuomo Tries, Fails in Attempt to Debunk Trump Impeachment Defense By Calling His Mom on Airhttps://t.co/p9g9ZRaTrS

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) November 21, 2019

CHRIS CUOMO FELL FOR IT AND GOT REKT https://t.co/MZsPWOpUNN

— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) November 21, 2019

Going to be hilarious when House doesn’t convict Trump because of Chris Cuomo.

— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) November 21, 2019

I found it totally believable that Holmes could hear Trump’s conversation until Cuomo tried to prove it! Now I’m skeptical!

What an imbecile. https://t.co/xz9gVRDQlR

— Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) November 21, 2019

Chris Cuomo calls his mom to prove you can hear someone talking on the phone without speakerphone and it was… something.

“Can you just say hello? Mom? She probably can’t hear me. Mom, can you hear me? Mom? Say hello to Dana Bash.” pic.twitter.com/KImamgOCxf

— Danielle Misiak (@DanielleMisiak) November 21, 2019