CNN's Chris Cuomo: Trump Is the ‘Problem,’ Hillary Needs to Be ‘Better’ Than That

September 21st, 2016 1:36 PM

An exasperated Chris Cuomo on Wednesday described Donald Trump as the “problem” and insisted that in next week’s debate, Hillary Clinton needs to be “better than that” and focus on solutions. On his CNN show New Day, Cuomo previewed the big event, dismissing Trump this way: “This idea of insulting your way to the presidency, that's his bag. He is the problem. You know, that's what he's saying, ‘I am the problem, I am bringing up the problem.” 

Cuomo continued, “Isn't her job to show that she is better than that, that she can bring the solutions, instead of just trading barbs with this guy?” CNN politics editor Mark Preston said he agreed “One hundred percent.” 

Last week, Cuomo insisted that Clinton “did not do anything illegal” when it came to her e-mails. 

A partial transcript is below:

New Day
9/21/16
8:54:26

CAMEROTA: I want to ask you also about what Robby Mook said about debate preps.

PRESTON: Right.

CAMEROTA: Because we — our CNN reporting says that she is combing through old videotapes of Donald Trump, seeing what sets him off, what gets under his skin. So what do we think is going to happen on Monday? 

MARK PRESTON: Well, you know what was interesting, too, about that —  first of all, it’s going to be explosive. And I think whatever happens on Monday, Tuesday’s going to be a fascinating day because whoever loses that debate is going to really go on the offense to try to catch up. 

CUOMO: Do you think you have a clear winner and loser? 

PRESTON: Oh, no doubt in a debate. I don’t think somebody —  I don’t think you walk away with a draw in the first debate. I do think, though, there will be, quote unquote political blood on the floor. But this is what I think is interesting, is that Robby Mook said this more than once in this interview, that she is going to have to fact check him during this debate. And that could get very uncomfortable if she is continuously saying, “well, actually, that is not true, actually, that is not true, actually, that is not true.” It will be interesting to see how the viewers actually react to that. 

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CAMEROTA: And how the moderator reacts.         

PRESTON: Right.

CAMEROTA: I mean this is the ongoing question of whether or not it is the moderator’s job to stop the action and fact check because, you know, Chris Wallace has said he doesn’t think that that is his job when it comes up to his debate. 

CUOMO: Well, it’s tricky. You know, it’s kind of, damned if you do, damned if you don’t. But, ultimately, it’s got to come down to the two of them. But, you know, don’t you think for Clinton, all this talk about her preparing for Donald, she needs to play her game more. 

PRESTON: Right.

CUOMO: This idea of insulting your way to the presidency, that’s his bag. He is the problem. You know, that’s what he’s saying, “I am the problem, I am bringing up the problem, that’s who I am. I’m saying what’s wrong.” Isn’t her job to show that she is better than that, that she can bring the solutions, instead of just trading barbs with this guy?

PRESTON: One hundred percent agree with you. She shouldn’t play —  anyone who played up to Donald Trump, such as Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio, lost in the primaries, right? She has to be her own person. However, she does have to show that she’s tough standing against him and it’s not just what she says, let’s watch body language. That is the most fascinating thing that we will see on Monday night between the two of them.

Tell the Truth 2016