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Anderson Cooper Had the Most Epic Response to Betsy DeVos Awkwardly Standing at an Elevator in Silence as a Reporter Asks Her About the Special Olympics
So awk.
Ever since President Donald Trump's Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, released her budget outlining major cuts to services for the disabled, special education and completely defunding Special Olympics, people expressed outrage.
But in a bizarre series of events, Trump and DeVos appeared to be pointing fingers at each other over whose idea the cuts were.
On Thursday, Trump announced he was overriding his people—without specifying who—to fund Special Olympics. Shortly after DeVos stated:
"I am pleased and grateful the President and I see eye-to-eye on this issue and that he has decided to fund our Special Olympics grant. This is funding I have fought for behind the scenes over the last several years."
That response varied greatly from what DeVos said ever since her budget release during both congressional budget hearings and in interviews before the President's announcement.
But when CNN reporter Ryan Nobles asked DeVos to clarify, it just got awkward.
CNN host Anderson Cooper broke it down later that evening. Watch the segment here.
.@andersoncooper addresses Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s “epic non-response” on Capitol Hill today and the admi… https://t.co/J98ZWB1dWS— CNN (@CNN) 1553822162.0
Cooper said, through laughter:
"Oh my god, that was so painful and awkward. I love the camera, after focusing on the back of her head — the camera person moves around. And then she’s looking at, I assume someone who works for her, for some sort of saving."
"But the other person was just like ‘Uh I’m not saying another word either'. That’s an epic non-response."
Cooper was far from alone in that assessment.
Others found the "not me" battle to absolve themselves of the Special Olympics funding cuts decision done by both Trump and DeVos telling. As were DeVos' responses highlighted in the segment.
@CNN @andersoncooper Anyone else think @BetsyDeVosED can start packing up her office in the White House? #byebyebetsy— Beth (@Beth) 1553826741.0
@CNN @andersoncooper Blatant incompetence that highlights her political inexperience.— Lee Nason (@Lee Nason) 1553826441.0
@CNN @andersoncooper @realDonaldTrump took the legs right out from under @BetsyDeVosED, it was great to watch👈🇺🇲😎👏👏👏— CloudWhisperer50🇺🇲 (@CloudWhisperer50🇺🇲) 1553825875.0
@CNN @andersoncooper NO ONE in this administration should EVER get another position on office/government EVER EVER EVER AGAIN !!!— BRAD ARMSTRONG (@BRAD ARMSTRONG) 1553825275.0
@CNN @andersoncooper #BetsyDeVos just wants another yacht since to her and her Christian based #RepublicanParty is… https://t.co/rY77GnLf5j— Carmen Hernandez (@Carmen Hernandez) 1553856269.0
@CNN @andersoncooper Betsy and Donald don’t care. They are so incompetent!!!— Lulu (@Lulu) 1553831935.0
@CNN @andersoncooper Haha Trump threw Betsy DeVos under the bus, and you can tell she's pissed Like a true narcis… https://t.co/fqYn9kAwkf— Nissen Forum (@Nissen Forum) 1553827782.0
@CNN @andersoncooper Incompetent clowns #TrumpLies #CruellaDeVos— SmartNeuroRad (@SmartNeuroRad) 1553825050.0
@CNN @andersoncooper And we pay this woman’s salary!!!!! @BetsyDeVosED— Jae Rena (@Jae Rena) 1553823448.0
@CNN @andersoncooper Betsy now. https://t.co/DfpPaOZrSe— Lindamarie (@Lindamarie) 1553822871.0
People were also less than grateful for the Trump administration's reversal of their own budget proposal.
*stabs someone* *calls 911* I am a hero https://t.co/o40bxrC6XG— Zack Bornstein (@Zack Bornstein) 1553825383.0
While one person floated a theory about the original decision.
Here is Cooper's full segment from Anderson Cooper 360.