CNN’s Cuomo Plays Softball with ‘Global Phenomenon’ Olympian in Hijab

CNN's Cuomo Plays Softball With 'Global Phenomenon' Olympian in Hijab (NewsBusters)

CNN's Chris Cuomo heralded American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad as a "global phenomenon" on Tuesday's New Day. Cuomo gave Muhammad the kid glove treatment by failing to ask her about her anti-Israel posts on Twitter and her controversial criticism of the "climate of anti-Islamic sentiment in the United States." Instead, the anchor prompted her to respond to unnamed "critics" who attacked her hijab as "a symbol of extremism." He also wondered, "What do you want people to know about what it is to be American?" 

Cuomo teased his six-minute interview of the bronze-medal winner by touting, "So let's get to the good news again. She's an Olympic athlete who just made history. And that was before Ibtihaj Muhammad won a bronze medal for Team USA. She has an inspiring story." He continued gushing over his guest during his lead into the segment: "'Faithful' and 'fearless' — these are words used to describe Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American athlete to wear a hijab while competing in the Olympics. Now, Muhammad is a global phenomenon because she's a winner. She won the bronze in the women's team saber."