NewsNation host Chris Cuomo warned CNN analyst Scott Jennings during a heated exchange Wednesday that continuing to use the term “illegal aliens” could lead to him being assaulted, escalating an ongoing dispute over language used to describe people in the country illegally.
The confrontation stemmed from a recent CNN panel discussion in which Jennings rejected demands from activist Cameron Kasky to stop using the word “illegals.”
During that exchange, Kasky told Jennings, “You don’t get to say the word illegals anymore.”
Jennings refused and repeatedly challenged Kasky by asking, “How are you going to enforce your edict on me?”
Cuomo addressed the exchange in a video later posted on social media, accusing Jennings of behaving aggressively during the CNN panel and criticizing his refusal to change his language.
“What are you a bully now? What are you a tough guy?” Cuomo said in the video. “Because you’re talking to this kid, who happens to be right, calling people ‘illegal.’”
Cuomo argued that political leaders from both parties had previously agreed to change the terminology used to describe people in the country unlawfully, framing the shift as a matter of civility rather than law.
“A long time ago, Democrats and Republicans agreed to call them ‘undocumented’ instead of ‘illegal’ because it seemed inhuman,” Cuomo said. “That’s why. They changed the vernacular, and you know it!”
Cuomo continued by criticizing Jennings’ demeanor during the exchange with Kasky, referencing Jennings’ role as a defender of President Donald Trump on cable news panels.
“What are you, you’re a tough guy now?” Cuomo said. “I thought you were supposed to be the simpering-but-open-to-conversation Trump defender.”
As the video continued, Cuomo issued a warning to Jennings, suggesting that his language could provoke a violent reaction from others.
“Be careful. You wanna be a tough guy, there are plenty of tough guys out there,” Cuomo said. “You wanna see how somebody can make you say ‘illegal’? And then what are you gonna do, sue, tough guy?”
Cuomo went further, stating that Jennings could face physical consequences if his comments were perceived as divisive.
“So if somebody beats your ass because you’re being rude and disrespectful and causing division in this country that’s causing distress and pain all over the streets and making people wanna hurt one another — if you really wanna be a part of that, as the expression goes, FAFO,” Cuomo said.
He concluded the warning by repeating his admonition.
“Don’t be a tough guy,” Cuomo said.
The remarks drew attention because of Cuomo’s suggestion that physical violence could result from political speech, particularly over terminology related to immigration.
Jennings has consistently defended the use of the phrase “illegal aliens,” noting that it appears in federal immigration law and arguing that political activists do not have the authority to dictate language.