CNN anchor Anderson Cooper admonished former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) during a debate over federal funding on the channel this week.
“It’s 23 days in here, guys, 23 days. You’re talking about 2.3 billion that was saved last year. These guys are saving 2.3 billion a day,” Sununu said, praising the work of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency Team (DOGE) team on behalf of President Trump.
“He’s giving very specific things, but he’s not actually giving any evidence of that,” Cooper responded.
“It’s all going to come because what they also said was, if we have to go to Congress, we’ll go to Congress. We’ll show where it is,” Sununu shot back.
Cooper pressed the Republican again.
“But some of the details that have come out, like the $59 million spent on luxury hotels, it’s actually not …” Cooper began to say before Sununu interrupted again.
“You’re talking about the FEMA money that was abused for migrants? That was FEMA money for migrants. That’s okay now?” the Republican asked.
“No, I’m not saying it’s ok. Don’t put words in my mouth,” the anchor said. “Don’t be a d—. What I’m saying is the portrayal by him is just not factually accurate. He’s talking about luxury hotels.”
The spat was first highlighted by Mediate.
The debate came as Musk has sparked widespread backlash from Democrats and federal workers over his efforts to cut federal spending and reshape the government to fit Trump’s agenda.
