CNN’s Chris Cuomo says calling a journalist ‘fake news ... is like an ethnic disparagement’

CNN's Chris Cuomo reacted on-air Thursday morning to a remark President Donald Trump made about the cable news host on Twitter, slamming Trump for calling him, "fake news."

"'The president, with all due respect, is once again off on the facts. And that's not something that any of us have any desire to say on a regular basis, but it keeps being true," Cuomo said. "'Fake news' is the worst thing that you can call a journalist. It's like an ethnic disparagement. We all have these ugly words for people — that's the one for journalists."

Earlier in the morning, Cuomo interviewed Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) about his recent comments made on Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch. Blumenthal said Wednesday that Gorsuch found Trump's criticism of another federal judge "disheartening" and "demoralizing."

Trump reacted on Twitter after the interview, claiming Cuomo never mentioned Blumenthal's past controversy during his 2010 Senate campaign when he falsely said he had served in Vietnam. Cuomo, replaying the interview, indicated that he brought up the controversy at the beginning of his interview, but that Blumenthal ducked the question.

"He ducked it, and that's OK, politicians duck things all the time."

"The truth of the matter asserted is about whether or not this judge says what Blumenthal says he said," Cuomo added. "His own comms guy says it, nobody denies it except the president of the United States, and once again he doubles down when he's wrong."

Cuomo continued his argument on Twitter after the segment ended, saying that the term "fake news" has morphed into meaning "I don't like this fact."

this is silly. appreciate POTUS watching @NewDay. untrue blumenthal not confronted with war record. "fake news " = i dont like this fact https://t.co/jgCCieWWmQ

— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) February 9, 2017