New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said at an event on Wednesday that America "was never that great," drawing an audible response from the crowd.

Cuomo made the comments in reference to President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE's popular "make America great again" slogan.

"We’re not gonna make America great again," Cuomo said at the event, where he signed anti sex-trafficking bills into law. "It was never that great."

"We have not reached greatness," he continued. "We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged."

"We will reach greatness when discrimination and stereotyping against women, 51 percent of our population, is gone," he said. "And every woman’s full potential is realized and unleashed and every woman is making her full contribution. When that happens, this nation is going to be taken even higher."

Gov. Cuomo is delivering remarks in NYC, ostensibly about the anti-human-trafficking bills he's about to sign.



But his remarks have been centered squarely on Donald Trump. Right now, he's cycling through all of the nicknames/insults Trump has hurled at women. — Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellGAN) August 15, 2018

Cuomo's comments were quickly met with pushback by Republican gubernatorial hopeful Marc Molinaro.

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"America, with its imperfections, has always been great," Molinaro said in a statement. "Our people, our principles, and our promises have been a beacon light to the world for 242 years and counting."

"Mr. Cuomo owes the nation an apology," Molinaro continued. "He should be ashamed of himself."

Cuomo's office sought to clarify his comments in a statement later Wednesday afternoon.

“The Governor believes America is great and that her full greatness will be fully realized when every man, woman, and child has full equality. America has not yet reached its maximum potential,” press secretary Dani Lever said.

"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.”

Cuomo has long been an outspoken critic of the president and often makes public remarks criticizing the White House. Amid a primary with Cynthia Nixon, an activist and former television star, Cuomo has consistently framed himself as an anti-Trump Democrat fighting for the future of the party.

Cuomo led Nixon 2-to-1 in a recent poll of likely Democratic primary voters.

—Updated at 4:32 p.m.