Chris Cuomo Defends Having Kellyanne Conway on His Show: ‘Lets You See What You’re Dealing With’

CNN’s Chris Cuomo said he likes to have Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway on his show because “she is very close to ”

In an appearance on “The Late Show,” Cuomo told Stephen Colbert that he is friends with Conway. Despite their “vigorous fights” during her appearances on his show, he said he does not have “animous” toward her.

Cuomo said he believes it is of “of extraordinary value” to have Conway on his show because she shares what “ wants you to believe.”

“She has put herself in a position where she defends the president. I want her on television because she is very close to this president as an advisor. And what she says on TV is what he wants you to believe. And I think that is of extraordinary value.”

Watch his comments below:

Colbert pressed him on the truthfulness of her statements, “But it’s often a lie.”

“I would give her the credit of dissembling. She’s about spinning away,” Cuomo countered. But he agreed that Conway is “protecting someone else’s lie” at times.

Finally, Cuomo said he likes to have her on his show because it “lets you see what you’re dealing with.”

“I have her on the show because, I think, having the main advisor to the President of the United States is valuable to people — even if they oppose him. Because it lets you see what you’re dealing with, what you’re up against with the reminder that it beat you the last time.”

Cuomo has regularly sparred with Conway during his show, though earlier this month, he told her that he doesn’t think she’s a liar.