Tensions flared on CNN Thursday night when Anderson Cooper and radio host Charlamagne Tha God clashed over the media’s treatment of Donald Trump versus Kamala Harris.
Charlamagne accused networks like CNN of downplaying Trump’s “fascist” rhetoric while devoting attention to unfounded questions about Harris’s race and qualifications. He argued that coverage often skews toward sensationalized narratives around Harris rather than exploring Trump’s recent, alarming remarks.
“It’s crazy,” Charlamagne said, “when somebody questions Kamala Harris’s blackness or calls her a DEI hire, y’all will have roundtable discussions about that. How come we’re not having a roundtable discussion on whether Donald Trump is a fascist?” Cooper immediately pushed back, insisting that he discusses Trump’s rhetoric “every night.” Charlamagne, undeterred, pressed further, saying he felt that Harris’s background was scrutinized more critically than Trump’s increasingly authoritarian statements.
Anderson Cooper got defensive and then snarked about MSNBC. Admitted they are fake news. His face showed immediate regret.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 25, 2024
The exchange grew heated, with Cooper adamantly denying that CNN hosts question Harris’s identity. Cooper acknowledged that guests with “strongly held beliefs” might have shared such views, but he maintained that those were outliers aimed at providing a range of opinions.
Still, Charlamagne argued that news media as a whole has avoided fully unpacking the implications of Trump’s remarks. “Nobody’s had an honest conversation about Donald Trump since 2016,” he stated, noting that while Trump’s rhetoric is often described as a threat to democracy, he believes that threat isn’t treated with the gravity it deserves. Charlamagne referred to CNN’s recent discussions of “double standards,” alleging Trump consistently avoids the intense scrutiny others face, whether compared to Biden, Clinton, or now Harris.
JUST IN: Kamala Harris tries making fun of Trump’s border wall before getting fact-checked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Harris started stuttering after Cooper asked her if she supports a border wall since she is “pro-border security” now.
Cooper: You called Trump’s wall a stupid… pic.twitter.com/5R4o10mAhX
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 24, 2024
Cooper defended his coverage of Trump, claiming that “nobody on the planet” has missed hearing Trump’s comments. But Charlamagne countered, pointing out that even Harris had voiced concerns over a lack of public awareness about Trump’s comments. Earlier in the week, Harris had spoken at a press conference, referencing recent statements by Trump about targeting critics and “enemies within.” She highlighted Trump’s suggestion to use military force against American citizens, which she condemned as dangerous rhetoric unbecoming of a democratic leader.
With just days until the election, Harris and her team are zeroing in on Trump’s words as central to their campaign, framing the election as a choice between democratic governance and authoritarianism. “Let’s be clear,” Harris said, “who he considers to be the enemy from within… like judges, journalists, nonpartisan election officials—anyone who dares to criticize him.”