New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) hit back at President Trump on Friday after the president continued his attacks on Cuomo for saying that America was “never that great.”
“We know how tough Trump is: hiding behind tweets & ripping babies from their mothers arms. Let’s get something straight: America is great because it rejects your hate-filled agenda of bigotry & sexism Ny’ers have your number @realDonaldTrump & will fight you all day. Bring it on.”
We know how tough Trump is: hiding behind tweets & ripping babies from their mothers arms
Let's get something straight: America is great because it rejects your hate-filled agenda of bigotry & sexism
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Ny’ers have your number @realDonaldTrump & will fight you all day
Bring it on
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 17, 2018
The response from Cuomo is the latest development in a saga that started earlier this week.
On Wednesday, Cuomo had said America “was never that great,” which appeared to shock the crowd at an event where he signed anti-sex-trafficking bills into law. “We’re not gonna make America great again,” Cuomo said at the event, “It was never that great.”
“We have not reached greatness,” he continued. “We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged.”
The remarks immediately generated widespread criticism including from President Trump, who blasted Cuomo and questioned how he could “survive” in the state. Trump tweeted Friday morning:
“How does a politician, Cuomo, known for pushing people and businesses out of his state, not to mention having the highest taxes in the U.S., survive making the statement, WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER THAT GREAT? Which section of the sentence is worse?”
How does a politician, Cuomo, known for pushing people and businesses out of his state, not to mention having the highest taxes in the U.S., survive making the statement, WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER THAT GREAT? Which section of the sentence is worse?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2018
Cuomo’s office initially tried to explain his statements on Thursday afternoon, clarifying what the governor meant by saying:
“America is great and that her full greatness will be fully realized when every man, woman, and child has full equality. America has not yet reached its maximum potential.â€
“When the President speaks about making America great again — going back in time — he ignores the pain so many endured and that we suffered from slavery, discrimination, segregation, sexism and marginalized women’s contributions.â€
Even though Cuomo quickly walked back his ill-considered remark, Trump continued to tweet about it all week. On Friday he wrote that Cuomo’s “political career is over” because of the statement:
“Which is worse, Hightax Andrew Cuomo’s statement, “WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER THAT GREAT†or Hillary Clinton’s “DEPLORABLES†statement.â€
…I say Andrew’s was a bigger and more incompetent blunder. He should easily win his race against a Super Liberal Actress, but his political career is over!
Which is worse, Hightax Andrew Cuomo's statement, “WE’RE NOT GOING TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, IT WAS NEVER THAT GREAT†or Hillary Clinton’s “DEPLORABLES†statement…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2018
…I say Andrew’s was a bigger and more incompetent blunder. He should easily win his race against a Super Liberal Actress, but his political career is over!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2018
The president was referring to actress Cynthia Nixon, the former “Sex and the City†star who is challenging Cuomo in the New York governor’s Democratic primary.
Despite Cuomo’s comment it is doubtful that his political career is over. There may be many voters in New York who agree with the sentiments that he was trying to express by his original comment. For people who aren’t white and rich America has not always been “great†or even a land of opportunity. It is highly probable that Andrew Cuomo will win reelection, and it is good that he is standing up to the bully in the White House.
As it said in Cuomo’s tweet, Americans will continue to resist Trump’s “hate-filled agenda of bigotry & sexism†and we will prevail.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
