--- description: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's statement that America "was never that great" has drawn a rebuke from President Donald Trump. title: Trump Slams New York Governor for Saying America 'Was Never That Great' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltebf042a2aaf827a1/698937db0a4a22418a9d3718/andrew-cuomo-america-great.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [New York](/tag/new-york/) ## New York Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # President Trump Seizes on New York Governor's Statement That America 'Was Never That Great' by [Mahita Gajanan](/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Aug 16, 2018 1:06 PM CUT  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a rally of hundreds of union members in support of IBEW Local 3 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) at Cadman Plaza Park, September 18, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a rally of hundreds of union members in support of IBEW Local 3 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) at Cadman Plaza Park, September 18, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.Drew Angerer—Getty Images by [Mahita Gajanan](/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Aug 16, 2018 1:06 PM CUT New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s statement that America “was never that great” has drawn a rebuke from President Donald Trump. In a speech Wednesday, [Cuomo blasted Trump](http://time.com/5368520/andrew-cuomo-america-great/ "undefined") and his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” “We’re not going to make America great — it was never that great,” said Cuomo, who is running for reelection. “We have not reached greatness. We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged.” The comment invoked audible reaction from the audience and swift criticism from Republicans. Late Wednesday, Trump joined the fray. “Can you believe this is the Governor of the Highest Taxed State in the U.S., Andrew Cuomo, having a total meltdown!” Trump tweeted. > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1029911186949767168) Cuomo’s press secretary later said said the governor does believe that America “is great” but that “America has not yet reached its maximum potential” in a statement to [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/15/politics/andrew-cuomo-america-was-never-that-great/index.html "undefined"). “The governor believes America is great and that her full greatness will be fully realized when every man, woman, and child has full equality,” said Cuomo spokesperson Dani Lever. “When the president speaks about making America great again — going back in time — he ignores the pain so many endured and that we suffered from slavery, discrimination, segregation, sexism and marginalized women’s contributions.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5368985/trump-andrew-cuomo-america-great/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5368985/trump-andrew-cuomo-america-great/"},"headline":"President Trump Seizes on New York Governor's Statement That America 'Was Never That Great'","datePublished":"2018-08-16T13:06:44.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T21:09:56.621Z","description":"Trump said Gov. 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