Cuomo Blasts Trump For ‘Reprehensible And Dumb’ Tweet On Elderly Protester

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2020/05/30: Governor Andrew Cuomo makes an announcement and holds media briefing on COVID-19 response and comments on violent protests on George Flyod death in the city at New Settlement Community Center, Bronx. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) holds a media briefing on COVID-19 at New Settlement Community Center, Bronx on May 30, 2020. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Tuesday fired back at President Trump for baselessly suggesting that an elderly protester — who was shoved to the ground by two Buffalo police officers during an anti-police brutality protest last week — could be part of the amorphous anti-fascist movement known as “antifa.”

During his press briefing, Cuomo urged Trump to apologize to the 75-year-old protester Martin Gugino, calling the tweet “wholly unacceptable.”

“Not a piece of proof, totally personally disparaging, and at a moment where the man is still in the hospital,” Cuomo said, before adding that the President of the United States has an obligation to “show some decency, show some humanity.”

Gugino, as of Tuesday morning, was still in critical condition after the shove caused him to fall over, hit his head on the ground and bleed from the ear. Two of the officers involved have been charged with assault.

Cuomo’s request for a Trump apology came after he expressed disbelief over the President’s tweet earlier in the briefing.

“What does that even mean?” Cuomo said. “You think it was staged? You think the blood coming out of (Gugino’s) head was staged? Is that what you’re saying? You saw his head hit the pavement. You see blood on the pavement — maybe he fell harder than he was pushed.”

Cuomo then raised his voice as he slammed the President for his “reckless,” “irresponsible,” “mean” and “crude” tweet.

“I mean if there was ever a reprehensible, dumb comment — and from the President of the United States at this moment of anguish and anger — what does he do?” Cuomo said. “Pours gasoline on the fire.”

Shortly after his briefing, Cuomo echoed similar sentiments in a tweet.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown also weighed in on Trump’s tweet by saying that his city prays for a full recovery for Gugino.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. ___________ Blasts Baseless Trump Tweet on _____________________________

  2. He is, as always, attempting to pump up his base. It’s all he’s got.

  3. Avatar for grack grack says:

    Interesting how both of these men are about the same age, have lived in the same part of the country, and yet one is a total piece of shit. (Gugino and Trump, just to clarify)

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

95 more replies

Participants

Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for irasdad Avatar for inversion Avatar for thebigragu Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for lastroth Avatar for ottnott Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for pshah Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for southerndem Avatar for brian512 Avatar for spin Avatar for grack Avatar for kelaine Avatar for maximus Avatar for zillacop Avatar for txlawyer Avatar for randome Avatar for emiliano4 Avatar for Thane Avatar for LeeHarveyGriswold

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: