It’s not often that CNN gets to share their more vulgar thoughts against President Trump. So, when Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) read a text message from anti-Trump FBI investigators calling the President a “f***ing idiot” on live TV (uncensored) during the hearing with AG Barr on Wednesday, CNN got to live vicariously through Trump critics that didn’t need to worry about FCC violations and fines.
During that evening’s Erin Burnett OutFront, reporter Jeanne Moos raved about Graham’s crass language and how it energized Trump critics. “It's not what you usually hear at a hearing,” she quipped before playing a censored version of the soundbite. The first of seven times a censored f-bomb was uttered during the report.
Moos seemed to like it so much that she played a meme that blasted it on loop:
MOOS: But the people most thankful for the f-bomb were Trump critics. “Nice of Lindsey Graham to have created Trump is a bleeping idiot memes for years to come.”
MEME: Trump is a [ bleep ] Idiot. Trump is a [ bleep ] Idiot.
MOOS: Cue the remixes.
MEME: Trump is a [ bleep ] Idiot. Trump – Trump – Trump
“‘My new ring tone is Lindsey Graham saying Trump is a bleeping idiot,’ though definitely not safe for work,” she said reading from Trump haters on Twitter. “‘I just accidentally played this in the office, and everyone around me laughed. Get yourself some of that joy.’”
She was also amused by how Graham and Trump used to trade harsh attacks before they buried the hatchet:
GRAHAM: Why, I think Donald Trump's a pretty much an idiot on policy, and he's a complete idiot when it comes to Middle East policy.
MOOS: And guess who then-candidate Trump called an idiot?
DONALD TRUMP: Then I watch this idiot Lindsey Graham on television today, and he calls me a jackass. “He’s a jackass”.
GRAHAM: He's becoming a jackass.
“But that was almost four years ago. Idiots and jackasses are now golfing buddies and allies,” she mocked.
And for good measure, Moose managed to squeeze in the line another two times as she was wrapping up her report:
MOOS: Senator Graham’s effort to defend President Trump –
GRAHAM: Trump is a f***ing idiot.
MOOS: Didn’t seem to raise an eyebrow, even if it's not the kind of swearing you expect at a hearing. Jeanne Moos, CNN—
MEME: Trump – Trump - Trump
MOOS: --New York.
MEME: F***ing idiot.
This is CNN. It's in the gutter.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront
May 1, 2019
7:58:20 p.m. EasternJEANNE MOOS: It's not what you usually hear at a hearing.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM: Trump is a F***ing idiot.
MOOS: Senate Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham dropped the f-bomb while quoting an FBI agent's text to his then-girlfriend. Graham was trying to demonstrate the agent's bias.
GRAHAM: Sorry to the kids out there.
MOOS: Sorry to the networks covering the hearing live.
BILL HEMMER (Fox News): About 90 minutes ago, I had a little bit of language slip by us, and for that we apologize to our viewers down the line. We can thank Senator Lindsey Graham for his candid response there.
MOOS: But the people most thankful for the f-bomb were Trump critics. “Nice of Lindsey Graham to have created Trump is a bleeping idiot memes for years to come.”
MEME: Trump is a [ bleep ] Idiot. Trump is a [ bleep ] Idiot.
MOOS: Cue the remixes.
MEME: Trump is a [ bleep ] Idiot. Trump – Trump - Trump
MOOS: “My new ring tone is Lindsey Graham saying Trump is a bleeping idiot,” though definitely not safe for work. “I just accidentally played this in the office, and everyone around me laughed. Get yourself some of that joy.”
But you know who said the very same thing about candidate Donald Trump, and he wasn't quoting anyone, in his very own words.
GRAHAM: Why, I think Donald Trump's a pretty much an idiot on policy, and he's a complete idiot when it comes to Middle East policy.
MOOS: And guess who then-candidate Trump called an idiot?
DONALD TRUMP: Then I watch this idiot Lindsey Graham on television today, and he calls me a jackass. “He’s a jackass”.
GRAHAM: He's becoming a jackass.
MOOS: But that was almost four years ago. Idiots and jackasses are now golfing buddies and allies. Senator Graham’s effort to defend President Trump –
GRAHAM: Trump is a f***ing idiot.
MOOS: Didn’t seem to raise an eyebrow, even if it's not the kind of swearing you expect at a hearing. Jeanne Moos, CNN—
MEME: Trump – Trump - Trump
MOOS: --New York.
MEME: F***ing idiot.
