Chris Cuomo Slams AOC, Warns Progressives Are Undermining the Democratic Party
NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo has unleashed a scathing critique of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, accusing her and the broader progressive movement of jeopardizing the Democratic Party’s credibility and cohesion.
In remarks aired this week, Cuomo warned that AOC’s renewed call to impeach former President Donald Trump—over military actions that resulted in a ceasefire with Iran—exemplifies a growing disconnect between the far-left and the party’s mainstream base.
Cuomo’s commentary comes amid deepening divisions within the Democratic Party, where tensions between moderates and progressives continue to widen. He argued that AOC’s approach not only alienates centrist voters but also emboldens extremism and distracts from practical governance.
Progressivism vs. Party Unity
Cuomo accused Ocasio-Cortez of repeatedly taking fringe positions, citing her past support for defunding the police, her perceived leniency toward anti-Israel rhetoric, and her alignment with democratic socialist figures like New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani—who recently unseated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral race.
“This is not about principle—it’s about personal posturing,” Cuomo said. “You call for impeachment over actions that prevented further bloodshed? That’s not leadership, that’s performance.”
The former CNN host also took a personal swipe at AOC, drawing a sharp contrast between her political style and the legacy of his own family, particularly his late father Mario Cuomo and his brother Andrew.
“You don’t represent Democratic tradition. You’re not a capitalist, and you’re not a mainstream Democrat. My father helped define what that means. You can’t touch that—philosophically, intellectually, electorally,” Cuomo stated.
Cuomo Urges Moderates to Take Back the Party
Cuomo’s message was clear: Democrats must steer back toward the political center if they hope to remain a viable national force. He encouraged party leaders to align with the “80% middle” instead of catering to what he called the “20% loud fringe.”
“Your bubble of social media engagement is not the real world. And Democrats need to stop pretending it is,” he warned, criticizing Ocasio-Cortez’s online-driven influence as out of step with broader voter sentiment.
Fetterman, Too, Rejects AOC’s Impeachment Push
Cuomo’s views were echoed, albeit more cautiously, by fellow Democrat Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Fetterman, who has supported some of Trump’s military decisions—including the recent bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities—dismissed the renewed impeachment calls as both futile and potentially damaging.
“This isn’t going anywhere,” Fetterman said. “He’s already been impeached twice. There’s no political appetite for this—nor should there be.”
He also warned against the casual invocation of impeachment, saying it cheapens the gravity of the process.
“Throwing the word around weakens the very idea of impeachment,” he told Fox News, emphasizing the need for Democrats to focus on legislative progress instead of symbolic gestures.
Ocasio-Cortez Defends Constitutional Grounds
Despite pushback, AOC stood by her position, accusing Trump of violating the Constitution by initiating military action without congressional approval. Following the strike on 14 Iranian nuclear enrichment sites using bunker-buster bombs, the Bronx congresswoman called the move a “reckless breach of war powers.”
Still, her efforts appear to be isolated within the Democratic caucus, drawing little support from leadership or moderates.
Conclusion: A Party at a Crossroads
Chris Cuomo’s biting remarks highlight a growing frustration among moderate Democrats who believe the party is being hijacked by ideological purism at the expense of practical politics. While AOC and her allies continue to push for bold, often controversial actions, critics argue that this approach is eroding party unity and alienating swing voters critical to future electoral success.
With voices like Senator Fetterman calling for restraint and pragmatism, Democrats face a pivotal test: Can they reconcile their internal divisions and present a unified vision—or will ideological fault lines deepen ahead of 2028?
As the party confronts both internal friction and external political threats, the path forward may depend less on bold declarations and more on forging consensus rooted in shared goals and broad appeal.