CNN Host Says Warren's Presidential Bid Is 'Dead on Arrival' and It's 'Hard to See What Boxes She Checks'

Conservative CNN host S.E. Cupp took aim at Senator Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential bid during her Saturday program, saying the Democratic politician's campaign is "dead on arrival."

Cupp, who identifies as a Republican but has been a staunch critic of President Donald Trump, argued that although the senator from Massachusetts may have once been "a star in the Democratic party" she now offers little to enthuse voters. "Her national appeal has waned considerably," the pundit said. "Now frankly, it's hard to see what boxes she checks at all," she quipped.

"Excitement? No," Cupp said, pointing to polls that show there is "far more support for former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and even Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke, who until a year ago, most people had never heard of."

Continuing her criticism, the host said that Warren does not appeal broadly to Americans.

"[Warren's] coastal politics and unrelatability make her a non-starter for wide swaths of voters in general," she said. Cupp then pointed to Warren's "DNA test debacle." The senator has long claimed Native American heritage, drawing significant criticism from indigenous groups as well political opponents. Trump has dubbed Warren "Pocahontas" to mock the claim, although many have also classified his continued use of the name as a "racial slur."

In October, Warren announced the results of a controversial DNA test that showed there was "strong evidence" of Native American ancestry, "likely in the range of six to 10 generations ago." However, indigenous tribes quickly slammed the results as a stunt and said it is not acceptable to demonstrate "tribal affiliation."

"Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong," Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. said at the time. "It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven. Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage," he said.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson also interviewed a descendent of the the historic and iconic Powhatan Princess Pocahontas, who blasted Warren and asked for an apology. "I think she's guilty of claiming she's been American Indian, but had no proof … and then using it … for political reasons … that was all wrong but she did that this whole time."

Following Warren's announcement that she was exploring a 2020 presidential bid on New Year's Eve, Trump shared a meme last week mocking her chances and her claim to native ancestry. The image, posted to Twitter, simply said: "Warren 1/2020th," and was originally shared by conservative news site The Daily Wire.

Arguing that Warren doesn't have what it takes to win in 2020, Cupp suggested on Saturday that Democrats need a better candidate.

"I've said it before," the host said, "Democrats need a candidate who can beat Donald Trump. [Warren] has proven she cannot," she said. "For that reason alone, Democrats can do better."

During a Saturday round-table in Iowa, Warren responded to a pointed question about her DNA test and whether it simply provided more fodder for Trump to use during the upcoming presidential campaign.

"My decision was, I'm just going to put it all out there," the senator said, while also making it clear that she does not identify as "a person of color" nor "a citizen of a [native] tribe," according to NBC News.

"I can't stop Donald Trump from what he's going to do. I can't stop him from hurling racial insults. I don't have the power to do that," she added. "But what I can do is I can be in this fight for all of our families."