Candace Owens rips Chris Cuomo after she called Russian leader Putin 'intelligent'

Candace Owens and Chris Cuomo sparred over her comments that Tucker Carlson's Vladimir Putin interview made the Russian president seem intelligent.

While discussing the former Fox News anchor's interview on the Patrick Bet-David podcast Friday, Owens praised the Russian president's intelligence and said it made him look smart compared to Joe Biden.

Cuomo criticized the firebrand for praising the leader. The NewsNation host added that Putin has had his enemies killed and limits Russian citizens' freedom.

'You just got triggered by the fact that I acknowledged that Putin...' Owens said before Cuomo cut her off.

'I am not triggered, what are you 19? What, are you using 19-year-old woke language now, that I'm triggered? I'm not triggered,' Cuomo said.

Candance Owens and Chris Cuomo sparred over her comments that Tucker Carlson's Vladimir Putin interview made the Russian president seem intelligent

Cuomo criticized the firebrand for praising the leader who the NewsNation host said has had his enemies killed and limits Russian citizens' freedom 

'You just got triggered by the fact that I acknowledged that Putin...' Owens said before Cuomo cut her off

Owens said Putin's explanation of Russian history was impressive and intelligent compared to Biden's often gaffe-filled speeches.

'Tucker just went over and interviewed Vladimir Putin and this is significant because then you saw what it looks like when somebody not only has the mental faculty, I mean irrespective of what you thought about the interview, you are forced to acknowledge that he's an incredibly smart person,' said Owens.

'It's very obvious that Putin can complete a sentence and that Biden can't.'

During the interview, Putin gave a 'historical background' of the conflict with Ukraine, before defending his military's action.

He then went on to make a range of bombshell claims including that Bill Clinton offered Russia a place in NATO, Russia has superior 'supersonic missiles,' Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is a 'spy' and said the CIA blew up the Nord Stream Pipeline.

Cuomo was outraged by Owens' notion that Americans should want a leader like Putin. 

'You [the audience] think he [Putin] gave you an accurate recitation of Russian history starting in the 8th century because Candace just said so,' Cuomo said.

'She's wrong and you're wrong okay? He did not give you an accurate recitation he gave you a KGB doctored look at why it's okay that he wants to reestablish the Soviet Union.'

Owens defended herself from Cuomo's criticism and said calling Putin smart does not mean she supports him.

'Chris, there's no reason to do this, there's no reason to do this. You're doing so great, I'm not going to let you do this to yourself,' Owens said.

'Seriously, there is no reason to do it. Obviously Vladimir Putin is intelligent. There's no reason, it doesn't make you anything to acknowledge the fact that any person that can for an hour straight unpack the history of their country starting from the 8th century has their mental faculties about them.' 

In the Carlson interview, when asked what the decisive moment was that made up his mind to launch his attack, Putin responded, 'initially, it was the coup in Ukraine' - referencing the removal of Zelensky's predecessor Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.

'And what triggered the current events? Firstly, the current Ukrainian leadership would not implement the Minsk Agreements,' Putin continued. The Minsk Agreements were a series of treaties that sought to end the Donbas War between Ukraine and Russian separatist groups, signed in 2014.

He accused former leaders of Germany and France of reneging on their commitments to the agreements.

'They never intended to implement them, they simply led us by the nose,' he said.

During his interview with Tucker Carlson, Putin gave a 'historical background' of the conflict with Ukraine, before defending his military's action

When asked what the decisive moment was that made up his mind to launch his attack, Putin responded, 'initially, it was the coup in Ukraine' - referencing the removal of Zelensky's predecessor Viktor Yanukovych in 2014

He also bristled at the notion a change in president would change the outcome of the war.

'You just asked me if another leader comes and changes something? It is not about the leader,' he said.

Putin sensationally claimed that a peace deal over the Ukraine war was once almost agreed to, blaming the 'Western side' for wanting to keep the war going for as long as possible.

'We're willing to negotiate,' he said.

'It is the western side, and Ukraine is obviously a satellite state of the US. It is evident. I do not want you to take it as if I am looking for a strong word or an insult. But we both understand what is happening.'