CNN’s Chris Cuomo apologizes to Raj ‘whatever-his-name-is’ Shah

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo apologized late on Monday for mistakenly referring to Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary Raj Shah as “Raj whatever-his-name-is.”

Cuomo’s remark during his panel discussion about President Trump’s “sh*thole” remarks on Monday morning had sparked a controversy.

“We went to the White House when it happened and Raj whatever-his-name-is didn’t back off the words,” Cuomo said during the discussion.

He was referring to Indian American Raj Shah’s official statement about Trump’s derogatory remarks during an immigration meeting last week that had triggered a controversy.

Shah, who took notice of the remark, took to Twitter on Monday to clarify his name to the anchor. “@ChrisCuomo and CNN viewers, it’s Raj Shah,” tweeted Shah.

https://twitter.com/RajShah45/status/952955572487442432

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders took a dig at CNN for continuously making mistakes. In December last year, CNN had posted a wrong picture of Shah during a broadcast. It showed the photo of another Shah, former administrator of the United States Agency for International Development Rajiv Shah, who is a Democrat.

READ: CNN airs photo of Rajiv Shah instead of Deputy Secretary Raj Shah; gets attacked (December 9, 2017)

“Last month @CNN put up the wrong picture for WH Principal Deputy Press Secretary @RajShah45 & now they refer to him on air as “Raj whatever his name is.” #ThisIsCNN,” tweeted Sanders.

Last month @CNN put up the wrong picture for WH Principal Deputy Press Secretary @RajShah45 & now they refer to him on air as "Raj whatever his name is." #ThisIsCNN https://t.co/PnkYDqoCpP

— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) January 15, 2018

Later, when he was hosting another discussion about Trump’s statement, Cuomo took a minute to apologize for his mistake.

“Why do I say his name slowly like that? Because another part of the distraction here is I forgot Raj’s last name this morning. I apologize for that. And then there wound up being a counternarrative: ‘Well, that makes you racist,” said Cuomo.

Earlier, Cuomo tendered an apology to Shah on Twitter. “Sorry for the mistake, Raj. Won’t happen again. Please know that you are welcome to come on the show anytime,” he tweeted.

To which Sanders, responded: “Classy of @ChrisCuomo to do this, but be careful what you wish for @RajShah45 is tough!”

Classy of @ChrisCuomo to do this, but be careful what you wish for @RajShah45 is tough! 😀

— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) January 15, 2018