Speaking during an interview on CNN that took place on the evening of Monday, March 18, Shark Tank host, investor, and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, also known as Mr. Wonderful, drove CNN anchor Laura Coates up a wall with his steadfast defense of former President Donald Trump. Their spat came in the context of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case against Trump.
Specifically, AG James recently said that she would ask a judge to seize former President Donald Trump’s assets if he is unable to pay the judgment or a bond, with the cost of doing so now over $464 million, by the time the 30-day automatic stay expires on March 25. It was to that that Mr. Wonderful was reacting when he drove Coates berserk.
Commenting on AG James’ remark that she would ask a judge to seize Trump’s assets, O’Leary argued that it told the rest of the world that America is no longer a safe place to do business, saying, “What a great message to send out all around the world. Take a claim where there was no monies lost– There was no fraud here in the context of actually people losing money. Deutsche Bank who made the loan was made whole. And let’s make a penalty of half a billion dollars against a crime apparently where no monies were lost. Great message for New York. Great message for America.”
Continuing, he emphasized that the message is “horrific,” saying, “A horrible message to everybody around the world watching this. Absolutely horrific.” Coates, already angry, snapped, “Well wait, Kevin. Kevin, hold on a second. Kevin.”
Then, as O’Leary kept trying to finish his point, Coates kept snapping at him, saying, “I have a wonderful voice and it won’t be talked over! Kevin O’Leary, I would like to hear what you have to say but– What are you doing?” She continued, “It is the Laura Coates Live show and I am speaking! It’s Laura Coates Live, and hello, my name is Laura Coates.”
That’s when another CNN personality, economics and politics commentator Catherine Rampell, weighed in, saying, “Look, I’m surprised that Kevin is wasting his good name defending fraud and lies, which I am convinced, Kevin, you have not committed. I don’t understand why are you defending the actions of someone who has committed these actions.”
Watch them here:
As background, after the Trump ruling, O’Leary labeled New York a “loser state” after the ruling. “Doesn’t matter what the governor says, New York was already a loser state, like California is a loser state. There are many loser states because of policy, high taxes, uncompetitive regulation,” he stated. He continued, “I would never invest in New York now. And I’m not the only person saying that.”
“Forget about the Trump factor,” he also said. “It’s not about that. What does this say to everybody that wants to do work in New York and wants to risk capital? … this judge arbitrarily decide[d] that this is the right amount. I don’t understand it. No developer does.” He continued, “It’s an atrocity. It’s an embarrassment, but it’s an assault on real estate.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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