MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Trump wants Chris Cuomo fired from 'fake news' CNN over sexual misconduct allegations: 'Fredo must go!'

The CNN host allegedly lamented to Trump's former personal attorney that some reporters were investigating claims against him from his time as an anchor at ABC News

President Donald J. Trump has chimed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding CNN star Chris Cuomo, calling for the popular anchor to be axed after he was heard denying apparent sexual misconduct allegations during a recorded conversation with disgraced former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. Cuomo was heard speaking to Cohen in an audio recording obtained by Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight". During the conversation, the CNN host bemoaned to Trump's former personal attorney that some reporters were allegedly investigating claims against him from his time as an anchor for ABC News.

The leaked tape went viral and made headlines immediately, and the president responded to the controversy on his favorite social media platform. "Will Fredo be fired by Fake News @CNN? He speaks with great disrespect about women, and it will only get worse," Trump tweeted. "Fredo's Ratings are bad, so this is the time. Always terrible to speak to sleazebags, especially when you are being recorded. CNN has no choice, Fredo must go!"

Trump has referred to Cuomo as "Fredo" ever since the latter snapped at a man who used the term to greet him in a 2019 incident. Fredo is a reference from the 1972 film 'The Godfather', wherein Fredo Corleone is the weak and docile brother of Michael Corleone, the overachieving boss of a crime syndicate. Meanwhile, Chris Cuomo is the younger brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The "Cuomo Prime Time" host was heard in the controversial footage complaining that news reporters are allegedly looking for skeletons in his closet. "You know, I'm always careful when I talk to media, you know?" Cuomo said in the audiotape released Tuesday. "Right," Cohen responded.

Cuomo continued, "Do you know how many f----- phone calls I've gotten from people at ABC who say that reporters are calling and lying about things they heard about me to try to get stories about me when I was at ABC? Guys calling and saying, 'I heard he's the Charlie Rose of ABC, used to invite women to the hotel and open up his bathrobe.' Do I look like the kind of f----- guy who's gotta do that?"

"Sure. Why not?" Cohen replied.

Cuomo had anchored ABC News shows "20/20" and "Good Morning America" before eventually leaving the network in 2013. "It's lying -- 'so I already have a good source that says that he forced one woman to have sex. I just wanted to know if you heard anything like that.' There is no woman! There is none of that!" the CNN anchor went on. "Here's the problem: Women who do work there say, 'Oh yeah, you know, some of these men,' and naming me with other guys, 'You know, we bumped into each other once in the elevator and he put his hand on my shoulder and he made me really uncomfortable.' I mean, what the f---?"

Cuomo reportedly also told Cohen that the media is "not your friend," to which the latter agreed.

Taking to Twitter, Trump's former lawyer claimed the only people in possession of these recordings are the Department of Justice, his former boss, and himself. “I did not give this recording or authorization for its use to @foxnews or anyone,” he tweeted. “@POTUS and cronies violated my First Amendment rights and now this; all to discredit me and my book. What’s next?”