CNN’s Chris Cuomo lauds brother in panned interview: ‘You’re both awful’

CNN’s Chris Cuomo was mocked after lauding his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), during an interview that one media publication called “a close approximation of a campaign endorsement,” with the anchor declaring he was “wowed” by the governor’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“You stepped up in an unusual way that really was created by a vacuum of power on the federal level,” Chris Cuomo told the governor in a remote interview late Wednesday.

“But these unusual times have demonstrated some unusual characteristics in people,” the CNN host. “And of course I won’t always be able to keep having you on the show. It will never be seen as fair in people’s eyes, and we both get that, that’s OK, you have plenty of people to talk to.”

“I hope you are able to appreciate what you did in your state and what it means for the rest of the country now and what it will always mean to those who love and care about you the most,” the former ABC “20/20” anchor added. “I’m wowed by what you did, and more importantly, I’m wowed by how you did it. This was very hard. I know it’s not over. But obviously I love you as a brother, obviously I’ll never be objective, obviously I think you’re the best politician in the country. But I hope you feel good about what you did for your people because I know they appreciate it.

“Nothing’s perfect, you’ll have your critics,” he concluded. “But I’ve never seen anything like what you did and that’s why I’m so happy to have had you on the show. And I hope you know that.”

Not objective but true,the facts tell the story.NY had & has its struggles but they’re doing way better than what we see elsewhere & no way that happens without the Luv Guv dishing the real 24/7.He works with relentless intensity & NY’s better for it.And as a brother, I am proud. pic.twitter.com/M1TrAtQwCo

— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 25, 2020

New York served as the epicenter of pandemic. Nearly 25,000 residents have died, including more than 7,900 deaths in nursing homes.

Andrew Cuomo still gets high marks for his handling of the crisis, with his approval in the last poll conducted by Siena College on May 27 at 66 percent.

His approval on his handling of nursing homes, which included an order to send positive COVID-19 patients back into the facilities, is only at 44 percent. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) has called the decision “a colossal failure” with “a deadly outcome” and has called for an investigation.

Cuomo’s handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes was a colossal failure. Now he’s trying to cover up the deadly outcome.

We will investigate. And the truth will come out—with or without his cooperation. He won’t get away with it.

My op-ed in the @nypost ↓ https://t.co/ruP8YXA8vB

— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) June 24, 2020

The Cuomo brothers interview quickly sparked blowback on social media.  Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean, whose husband’s parents died in a New York nursing home during the pandemic, called the pair “both awful.” 

At least @ChrisCuomo admitted he’s not objective, and I guess the giant cotton swab wasn’t appropriate this time. Your bro still has the highest death toll in any state and his name is still on the order that forced Covid into nursing homes killing thousands. You’re both awful. https://t.co/zIoJXJtWT0

— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) June 25, 2020

The luv guv’s brother did ask about the nursing home deaths, but @NYGovCuomo rambled on and blames everyone else for his mistakes. @ChrisCuomo “forgot” about the order that forced Covid patients into homes that had his brothers name on it. pic.twitter.com/0xguu7wLDu

— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) June 25, 2020

Shame on you, @ChrisCuomo.

My grandmother is dead, so are more than 5000 NY’ers who lost their lives as a direct result of your brother’s nursing home orders.

Not only did he kill her, but he forced her to die alone, & didn’t allow me to attend her funeral.

He is disgraceful. https://t.co/xkDPP0fg3T

— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) June 25, 2020

CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo to his brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo:

“I’m wowed by what you did… Obviously I’ll never be objective. Obviously I think you’re the best politician in the country… but I’ve never seen anything like what you did.”

This passes for “journalism?” pic.twitter.com/SsjSWUS47O

— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 25, 2020

Despite the fact that New York State has had the most #COVID19 deaths in the country, @ChrisCuomo went on to heap praise on his brother (@NYGovCuomo) for how he handled the situation. Still no mention of Andrew’s order to put sick patients in nursing homes. pic.twitter.com/CFGtzLlL9H

— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) June 25, 2020

Okay Chris Cuomo. We know you love your brother, but the gushing is getting a bit uncomfy.

— Jim Benemann (@jimbcbs4) June 25, 2020

It’s amazing that CNN producers even allow this to happen in the first place. Is conflict of interest not a thing at @CNN? Not only is everything Chris Cuomo saying here completely untrue… he is using his giant platform to propagandize for his brother, the state governor https://t.co/8BNxskbTuJ pic.twitter.com/HSSrWcjqbU

— Harry Khachatrian (@Harry1T6) June 25, 2020