Former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a homophobic swipe at CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, just one day after the veteran journalist reported live from a bomb shelter in Israel during an incoming missile alert.
In a social media post criticising media coverage of his controversial strike on Iran, Trump mocked Cooper by calling him “Allison Cooper”, a move widely condemned as a homophobic and misogynistic dig.
“Working especially hard on this falsehood is Allison Cooper of Fake News CNN,” Trump wrote, falsely asserting that coverage downplayed the effectiveness of the U.S. military’s attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
The remark — appearing to feminise Cooper because he is gay — was immediately flagged by observers as both discriminatory and demeaning. Critics noted that such rhetoric perpetuates harmful stereotypes, equating femininity with weakness and using queerness as an insult.
Cooper Broadcasts Amid Missile Threat
Trump’s comment followed an extraordinary moment of journalism by Cooper, who calmly continued to report as he and his CNN colleagues were forced to seek shelter in Tel Aviv after sirens warned of an incoming Iranian missile.
“We have about a 10-minute window to get down into a bomb shelter,” Cooper explained live on air. “We’ll continue to try to broadcast from that bomb shelter.”
The team broadcast from the shelter’s basement once safely inside, highlighting the tense conditions faced by reporters covering the escalating conflict between the U.S., Iran, and regional actors.
Cooper described the alert as a “luxury” compared to the shorter warnings often available during rocket attacks from Gaza.
Fallout Over Iran Strike — and Trump’s Insult
Trump’s strike on Iran has drawn criticism from both political allies and opponents. Critics say it jeopardises U.S. security and undermines his previous campaign promise to avoid foreign conflicts.
Even conservative figures such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have rebuked the decision, calling it a betrayal of the “America First” doctrine.
Meanwhile, Trump’s attack on Cooper has sparked renewed concerns over his ongoing use of homophobic rhetoric, particularly as his administration continues to push anti-LGBTQ+ policies — including bans on gender-affirming care and trans athletes.
A Pattern of Hostility
This isn’t the first time Trump has used gendered or queer-coded language to attack opponents. From previous references to “Sleepy Joe” to nicknaming journalists and political rivals with feminised or infantilising slurs, Trump’s word choices have often veered into territory viewed as offensive or discriminatory.
Critics argue that targeting Cooper — particularly after his widely-praised composure under literal fire — sends a chilling message about the former president’s attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community and the role of journalists in conflict zones.
Trump Mocks Anderson Cooper with Homophobic Insult After Iran Strike Fallout
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a homophobic swipe at CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, just one day after the veteran journalist reported live from a bomb shelter in Israel during an incoming missile alert.
In a social media post criticising media coverage of his controversial strike on Iran, Trump mocked Cooper by calling him “Allison Cooper”, a move widely condemned as a homophobic and misogynistic dig.
The remark — appearing to feminise Cooper because he is gay — was immediately flagged by observers as both discriminatory and demeaning. Critics noted that such rhetoric perpetuates harmful stereotypes, equating femininity with weakness and using queerness as an insult.
Cooper Broadcasts Amid Missile Threat
Trump’s comment followed an extraordinary moment of journalism by Cooper, who calmly continued to report as he and his CNN colleagues were forced to seek shelter in Tel Aviv after sirens warned of an incoming Iranian missile.
The team broadcast from the shelter’s basement once safely inside, highlighting the tense conditions faced by reporters covering the escalating conflict between the U.S., Iran, and regional actors.
Cooper described the alert as a “luxury” compared to the shorter warnings often available during rocket attacks from Gaza.
Fallout Over Iran Strike — and Trump’s Insult
Trump’s strike on Iran has drawn criticism from both political allies and opponents. Critics say it jeopardises U.S. security and undermines his previous campaign promise to avoid foreign conflicts.
Even conservative figures such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have rebuked the decision, calling it a betrayal of the “America First” doctrine.
Meanwhile, Trump’s attack on Cooper has sparked renewed concerns over his ongoing use of homophobic rhetoric, particularly as his administration continues to push anti-LGBTQ+ policies — including bans on gender-affirming care and trans athletes.
A Pattern of Hostility
This isn’t the first time Trump has used gendered or queer-coded language to attack opponents. From previous references to “Sleepy Joe” to nicknaming journalists and political rivals with feminised or infantilising slurs, Trump’s word choices have often veered into territory viewed as offensive or discriminatory.
Critics argue that targeting Cooper — particularly after his widely-praised composure under literal fire — sends a chilling message about the former president’s attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community and the role of journalists in conflict zones.
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