CNN host Anderson Cooper has apologized for a “crude” retort referencing feces that he directed at President Donald Trump supporter Jeffrey Lord during an interview on his show, Anderson Cooper 360 , on Friday night. The CNN host apologized for interjecting with a “crude statement” while he sparred verbally with Lord, a CNN political commentator, over the recent revelation that Trump called the former FBI director James Comey a “nut job” during a meeting with Russians officials in the White House Oval Office.
Cooper made the “crude statement” during a conversation with Lord about a New York Times report that Trump disparaged former FBI Director James Comey by calling him a “nut job” while meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, in the Oval Office
The New York Times report also claimed that Trump said that firing Comey eased the “pressure” he was facing “because of Russia.”
“I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
As Lord struggled to justify Trump calling the former FBI director a “nut job” in the presence of Russian officials, Cooper interjected out of frustration with a snarky remark, saying that if Trump “took a dump on his desk,” Lord would happily defend it.
Anderson Cooper with the ?: “If he took a dump on his desk you would defend it.” pic.twitter.com/r1dqphRnSC
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) May 20, 2017
“If he took a dump on his desk, you would defend it,” Cooper snapped. “I don’t know what he would do that you would not defend.”
Lord laughed at the remark.
“You’re a loyal guy, I think that speaks well of you,” Cooper added, according to the Washington Post .
Cooper later apologized for the comment. He took to Twitter after the show, saying that he regretted the statement. He also apologized on air.
“I regret the crude sentence i spoke earlier tonight and followed it up by apologizing on air. It was unprofessional. I am genuinely sorry.”
I regret the crude sentence i spoke earlier tonight and followed it up by apologizing on air. It was unprofessional. I am genuinely sorry.
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) May 20, 2017
“Anderson Cooper is my colleague and a friend for whom I have the highest professional and personal regard… It’s OK to laugh!” Lord responded on Twitter.
is my colleague and a friend for whom I have the highest professional and personal regard. Message America? It’s ok 2 laugh!
— Jeffrey Lord (@realJeffreyLord) May 20, 2017
Cooper had asked Lord repeatedly during the interview whether Lord thought that Trump should have disparaged Comey in front of the Russians. Lord answered that he thought Trump was “perfectly within his rights” to call Comey a “nut job” in the presence of the Russians.
“I don’t care what he says to the Russians; I mean, he’s the president of the United States. He can say what he wants,” Lord said, according to the Washington Post .
“It was unprofessional. I am genuinely sorry” https://t.co/0ddZdkiRiM
— New York Post (@nypost) May 21, 2017
“He can say what he wants, but is it smart?” Cooper asked.
Lord struggled to compose a coherent response while trying to avoid conceding that Trump’s comments about Comey were inappropriate.
“Well, sure… I mean, sure… you get subjective about this. As a matter of fact…,” he stuttered.
“I’m not asking you if it’s subjective. Is it smart?” Cooper persisted, trying to force Lord to give ground.
“Is it smart? I don’t think it matters either way. In truth, I really don’t,” Lord answered.
Lord tried to defend his position by bringing up comments that former President Barack Obama reportedly made in 2012 when he was caught on a hot mic during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Medvedev. Obama was heard explaining to Medvedev that he would be in a better position to negotiate with the Russians on issues relating to the U.S. missile defense systems in Europe after his re-election.
However, Cooper tried to parry Lord’s reference to Obama’s 2012 comment, saying that it was different because it never triggered a significant public controversy or an FBI investigation.
Anderson Cooper forced to apologize after ‘desk dump’ comment — then James Woods savagely mocks him https://t.co/0oSDbtf4MY pic.twitter.com/WyATPqHBah
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) May 20, 2017
The latest incident comes after Cooper betrayed irritation and annoyance during a May 9 interview with Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway. Conway had appeared on CNN to defend Trump’s decision to fire Comey. But she came under pressure from Cooper who grilled her aggressively about the contradictory statements issued by administration officials trying to explain why Comey was fired.
During the tense exchange between Cooper and Conway over the inconsistent statements that Trump aides had offered to explain Comey’s dismissal, Cooper betrayed his irritation by eye-rolling.
Later on Fox News, Conway accused the media of hostility toward Trump aides who try to defend the administration’s actions. She complained about hosts who put on a “feigned pained look, furrowed brow [and] curled lip” and make disparaging responses when Trump aides try to explain the administration’s actions and positions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKLLdqr6hgc
Referring specifically to Cooper’s eye-roll, she said it was “probably sexist” and coined a new term “Trumpist,” to describe “anti-Trump” behavior and attitudes.
[Featured Image by Dennis Van Tine/Getty Images]
