Anderson Cooper snaps at pro-Trump ex-New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu engaged in a tense on-air exchange Tuesday, culminating in a remark from Cooper that quickly went viral: “Don’t be a d–k.”
The heated discussion occurred during a CNN panel analyzing Elon Musk’s recent Oval Office press conference with President Trump.
Musk, who has been acting as an informal adviser who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), used the briefing to highlight what he claimed were instances of excessive and mismanaged federal spending.
Sununu defended Musk’s claims, arguing that they shed light on longstanding concerns about government waste and corruption.
During the discussion, Sununu pointed out that Musk had offered “specific examples off the top of his head of where the corruption and fraud were,” including the claim that Social Security funds were still being paid to a person who had allegedly been dead for 150 years.
Cooper, however, pushed back, criticizing Musk for failing to provide any supporting evidence.
“He didn’t present any actual evidence,” Cooper said, emphasizing that Musk’s statements lacked verification.
Sununu countered by questioning whether Cooper expected Musk to “come in with 10,000 pages” of documents to back up his claims.
The conversation escalated further when Cooper attempted to shift the discussion to the Trump administration’s recent firing of four Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees.
The employees were dismissed over allegations that they used federal funds to house migrants in New York City hotels.
Musk had also weighed in on the controversy, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that FEMA had spent $59 million to put immigrants in “luxury” hotels.
Sununu seized on Cooper’s remarks.
“You’re talking about the FEMA money that was abused for migrants. That was FEMA money for migrants. That’s OK now?” he asked.
Cooper, appearing frustrated, shot back: “I’m not saying it’s OK. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Sununu pressed further. “So, would you stop that? Would you stop that process?”
At that moment, Cooper lost his patience. “Don’t be a d–k,” he said. “What I’m saying is the portrayal by him [Musk] is just not factually accurate.”
After the sharp exchange, Cooper later apologized to Sununu, acknowledging his tone had been inappropriate. “I was mean, I was rude to you,” he admitted.
Sununu, however, dismissed the slight, choosing to keep the moment lighthearted. “Are you kidding? I grew up with seven brothers and sisters — I’m a Sununu. I’m a former governor. You want to know what I’m normally called?” he joked.
He then added, “It’s post-8 o’clock. Have some fun on CNN.”
Cooper, however, remained firm. “I don’t wanna do that,” he responded.
A CNN spokesperson declined to comment.
When reached by The Post, Sununu said via email: “I’m from New Hampshire. It takes a lot more than that to offend me.”
“If anything I think it was great that Anderson got comfortable enough to have a political argument with me like any of my buddies would over a beer … but I still don’t think I’m getting an invitation to that New Year’s Eve party,” he quipped.
The incident comes as CNN’s editorial stance under new CEO Mark Thompson continues to draw attention — particularly as the low-rated news network struggles to keep up in the ratings race against competitors Fox News and MSNBC.
According to reports, Thompson has instructed CNN journalists, including Cooper and fellow anchor Jake Tapper, to avoid “pre-judging” Trump.
During a virtual editorial meeting held before the inauguration, Thompson reportedly emphasized the importance of staying neutral in political coverage and discouraged network figures from revisiting past controversies, including Trump’s legal battles.
He also urged reporters to steer clear of expressing personal outrage, marking a shift in CNN’s approach to covering Trump and his continued influence on American politics.
Thompson recently relegated anchor Jim Acosta to a midnight time slot — prompting the longtime Trump agitator to quit and launch his own newsletter on the Substack platform.
CNN insiders slammed the move, accusing Thompson of jettisoning Acosta in order to curry favor with Trump.
