New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said at an event on Wednesday that America "was never that great," drawing groans and boos from the crowd.
Cuomo made the comments in reference to President Trump's popular "make America great again" slogan.
"We’re not gonna make America great again," Cuomo said at the event, where he signed anti sex-trafficking bills into law. "It was never that great."
"We have not reached greatness," he continued. "We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged."
"We will reach greatness when discrimination and stereotyping against women, 51 percent of our population, is gone," he said. "And every woman’s full potential is realized and unleashed and every woman is making her full contribution. When that happens, this nation is going to be taken even higher."
Cuomo's comments were quickly met with pushback by Republican gubernatorial hopeful Marc Molinaro.
"America, with its imperfections, has always been great," Molinaro said in a statement. "Our people, our principles, and our promises have been a beacon light to the world for 242 years and counting."
"Mr. Cuomo owes the nation an apology," Molinaro continued. "He should be ashamed of himself."
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