Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Chris Cuomo Says Rashida Tlaib ‘Should Be Censured’ After Calling GOP Fascists

Screenshot/YouTube/ The Chris Cuomo Project

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo said on “The Chris Cuomo Project” Thursday that Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib “should be censured” after appearing to label Republicans fascists and attacking Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.

After Tlaib said during a Sept. 18 House Oversight Committee hearing on crime in Washington, D.C., that there was a “fascist takeover” taking place, Donalds snapped back, leading to an intense shouting match in which Tlaib attacked the Republican congressman personally. Cuomo said on his podcast that Tlaib blatantly breached a House rule by hurling an “ad hominem” attack against her Republican colleague.

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“By the way, I think Rashida Tlaib totally violated [a rule] and should be censured for the other day and how she was acting on the floor of Congress? On the floor of Congress, you’re not allowed to launch ad hominems, attacks against another member,” Cuomo said. “Why? In a court of law, you’re not allowed to openly attack personally opposing counsel. Why? In sanctioned debate, you’re not allowed to levy personal insults against your debating opponent. Why?”

“Because we know that decorum has to be enforced if your goal is decency and cogency. That’s why,” he continued. “Because you got to get the cheap shit out, the base shit out to elevate it. And that’s what you need to do now.”

Donalds took issue with Tlaib using the term “fascist” and criticized her harshly for it — but he did not appear to attack her personally.

“I think it’s insane that the gentlelady [Tlaib] doesn’t have an argument, but she’s going to refer to me and some of my colleagues like we were from the Third Reich … Do I look like a member of the Third Reich to you, Ms. Tlaib?” Donalds asked, adding repeatedly that he believed the Democrat’s remark was “way out of line.”

Tlaib shouted hysterically as Donalds talked.

“Free D.C.! Free D.C.! And make sure you vote with your own voting card,” Tlaib said following Donalds’ remarks. “Don’t be giving it to somebody else.”

President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and took other measures to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., in August. Violent crime fell in the city, relative to previous year, following Trump’s crackdown.

Moreover, former Democratic strategist Dan Turrentine on “The Morning Meeting” Sept. 15 urged his party to acknowledge it had erred by calling Trump a “fascist” following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

“[T]he party should not call Trump Hitler, should not say he’s a fascist. One, it’s bad politics. Two, it’s just not true. Right? It is simply not the case,” Turrentine said. “And I think that whenever a bad thing happens, parties need to call out in real time, ‘This is not acceptable.’ And I wish that one of our 2028-ers would come out and be more explicit.”