Chris Cuomo speaking at a town hall forum hosted by CNN. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images CNN host Chris Cuomo said on Thursday that he believes hurling the "fake news" insult at journalists is similar to when people use racial slurs against minorities.

"I see being called 'fake news' as the equivalent of the N-word for journalists, the equivalent of calling an Italian any of the ugly words that people have for that ethnicity," Cuomo said on SiriusXM.

"That's what 'fake news' is to a journalist," the CNN host continued. "It's an ugly insult, and you better be right if you're going to charge a journalist with lying on purpose."

Earlier in the day, Cuomo said being called "fake news" was "like an ethnic disparagement" for journalists, but he didn't at the time compare it to the N-word.

Cuomo initially made the comparison after President Donald Trump tweeted that Cuomo was advancing so-called fake news.

A representative for CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Update, 4:26 p.m. ET: Cuomo issued an apology on Twitter.