NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo didn’t hold back in his criticism of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), accusing her of steering the Democratic Party in a direction that could spell its downfall.
Cuomo specifically took issue with AOC’s renewed push to impeach former President Donald Trump over his recent actions targeting Iranian nuclear sites—strikes that led to a ceasefire. Cuomo argued that her approach, which he views as politically extreme, risks alienating the broader electorate and mirrors the kind of fringe behavior Democrats often condemn in MAGA circles.
“This is exactly the mistake,” Cuomo warned, “falling into extremism and forgetting the 80% of Americans who live in the middle.”
He went on to say that Ocasio-Cortez consistently finds herself on the losing side of widely-supported issues—pointing to her stances on defunding police, her alignment with controversial positions on Israel and Palestine, and now, an impeachment push over military action that many see as justified.
Cuomo also noted her endorsement of 33-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, who previously unseated his brother, Andrew Cuomo, in the New York City mayoral race. He used that point to draw a stark comparison between today’s progressive leaders and the Democratic figures of the past—like his late father, former Governor Mario Cuomo.
“You’re damaging the party,” Cuomo said bluntly. “You want to impeach Trump instead of proposing a better way to protect the country. That’s not leadership. That’s just posturing.”
He questioned the political identity of AOC and others like her, saying, “You’re not Democrats. You’re not capitalists. You’re something else entirely—and maybe you should just admit that and branch off.”
Cuomo then launched into a personal reflection, invoking the legacy of his father: “I was raised by a real Democrat. Say what you will about Mario Cuomo, but none of you come close—not in intellect, not in mission, not in character, and certainly not in electability.”
He concluded with a broader message to the party: “You’re not helping. You’re living in an echo chamber of likes and retweets. Democrats need to remember they can aim higher. Stop chasing the 20% and start listening to the 80%.”
Cuomo isn’t alone in his concerns. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) also dismissed AOC’s call for another Trump impeachment, calling the idea unrealistic and unhelpful.
Speaking to Fox News, Fetterman flatly rejected the notion: “Of course not,” he said. “She knows it. I know it. We all know this isn’t going anywhere. He’s already been impeached twice—he’s still here. This isn’t productive.”
His comments came after Ocasio-Cortez condemned the president’s strike on Iran, claiming it violated the Constitution by bypassing Congress.
“The President’s reckless choice to bomb Iran without authorization is a severe breach of Congressional War Powers,” she said on social media.
But Fetterman warned against cheapening the concept of impeachment.
“If we throw that word around too casually, it loses its weight,” he said.
