Chris Cuomo Insists JD Vance Wrong Choice for Trump in Bizarre Exchange with Dan Abrams ‘That’s Why You Don’t Work in Politics’

Chris Cuomo insisted in a terse exchange with fellow NewsNation host Dan Abrams that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-PA) was the wrong pick in every way as running mate for Donald Trump .

Abrams , founder of Mediaite, offered a counterpoint to Cuomo’s criticism of Vance as Trump’s pick while Cuomo was handing off the hour. Abrams argued Vance is a “choice” that “makes a lot of sense” for Trump.

“Not to me,” Cuomo shot back.

Abrams argued Trump chose Vance because the senator is a “MAGA die-hard,” but also someone who has had mainstream appeal beyond Trump’s base. Vance, a Marine veteran, is a venture capitalist best known for the best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy , which was turned into a Netflix film by director Ron Howard .

Abrams told Cuomo:

That’s why I’m following up with you on it because it seems to me that he needed someone who was going to be a MAGA die-hard. It’s just not an option to have someone who is simply a politically smart, more moderate choice because Donald Trump wouldn’t be able to deal with it. It’s clear that’s not what he wants. He wants somebody who’s going to be loyal and… that means you’ve got to have someone with the MAGA credentials. You’ve got Vance, but Vance also has something else. He can talk to the non-MAGA folks. This is a Yale Law School guy, this is a guy who’s lived in liberal worlds, this is a guy who wrote a best-selling book, so it seems to me that amongst the choices, Vance makes a lot of sense.

“That’s why you’re not in politics,” Cuomo responded.

The former CNN host accused Vance of being motivated purely by “opportunism” and claimed the ex-Trump critic could no longer appeal to anyone outside the MAGA base.

“This guy used to tear into Trump. The only thing that’s changed is his opportunism. He can’t speak to people like me, nor can he speak to people like you because he is a sellout. He hasn’t changed what he believes in. He has changed what he believes is best for himself, Dan. It doesn’t matter where he went to law school,” Cuomo said.

Abrams called someone more moderate like a “ Mitt Romney -type” being chosen to pair with Trump only possible in a “fantasy world.”

“That’s a different question on whether you think he’s disingenuous, right? The question of who Trump could live with as his VP is the question and I think you’re living in a fantasy would where Trump picks someone who’s a political moderate, a Mitt Romney-type who could say, ‘oh my goodness, look at all the new people we can bring under the umbrella.’ That’s a fantasy world,” he argued.

After a beat of silence between the two, Abrams added, “And by the way, you’re not in politics either.”

As Abrams laughed, Cuomo continued pushing his point and touted his work on multiple campaigns in the past to back up his certainty that Vance was a miscalculation for Trump.

“I am not in politics, but I have been involved in a dozen campaigns. You have been involved in none. I’m telling you I understand what these people do when people like you aren’t around at a cocktail party,” Cuomo said, adding that Vance is a “supplicant” and making a smooching face to imitate the senator’s loyalty to Trump.

“You’re looking at it purely through a smart, political prism and I’m viewing it through a practical prism, and I guess that’s the difference,” Abrams offered.

“Tell yourself what you want,” Cuomo said.

“Of course. Sorry. You’re right! It was a terrible decision and no one rational in the political world ever think it was a smart decision!” Abrams sarcastically said, easing the tension and earning some mock applause from his fellow host.

Watch above via NewsNation .