On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, a heated dialogue unfolded between CNN presenter Anderson Cooper and former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. This disagreement took place during a discussion on government efficiency, marking the second night in a row of tense interactions between CNN hosts and Republican guests.
The altercation arose during Cooper’s assessment of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s visit to the Oval Office. Musk, along with his young son X, took part in a signing ceremony for an executive order regarding government reform. The preceding evening saw a similar confrontation between CNN host Abby Phillip and conservative commentator Scott Jennings.
The argument heated up when Sununu commended Musk for his openness in spotting government waste. “I know what you’re not showing here, but Musk gave seven specific examples off the top of his head of where the corruption and fraud were,” Sununu declared. Cooper, however, promptly questioned this, replying, “But we didn’t see any of that. He doesn’t present any actual evidence.”
The argument further escalated when Sununu underlined the financial implications of the program, affirming that in merely 23 days of operation, the department was making daily savings of $2.3 billion compared to last year’s total savings. CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin probed these figures, urging Sununu to back up these substantial claims with evidence.
During the Oval Office meeting, Musk voiced concerns about bureaucrats amassing wealth far beyond their government salaries. He specifically mentioned USAID employees who, despite earning a few hundred thousand dollars annually, had accrued tens of millions in net worth. He quipped about the origin of this surplus wealth, suggesting they might be exceptionally successful investors whose advice should be heeded.
While acknowledging that his department’s swift pace could lead to errors, Musk reassured that any such mistakes would be swiftly rectified. He likened the intense scrutiny his department was under to undergoing daily medical checkups, humorously suggesting they should arrange permanent lodgings for the examiners.
The executive order signed by Trump, details of which were not immediately released by the White House, aims to “significantly” trim down the federal workforce by hiring only one employee for every four who leave, according to a report by Semafor. The Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) initial actions have predominantly targeted USAID, leading to protests and legal action from Democrats and federal employees.
The exchange between Cooper and Sununu reached a climax when they debated over claims about $59 million expenditure on migrant housing. Sununu diverted the discussion towards the misuse of FEMA funding for migrant assistance, querying Cooper about his stance on such expenses. Cooper firmly refuted this portrayal, instructing Sununu to cease misrepresenting his position. The discussion intensified when Cooper admonished Sununu for his language, highlighting his discomfort with the misrepresentation of migrant housing as luxury accommodations.
The incident concluded with Cooper apologizing for his choice of words. Sununu later dismissed the altercation, likening it to a political debate among friends over a beer.
