President Donald Trump said that CNN’s Don Lemon must be “dumb” or “stupid” to not understand that journalists are supposed to be unbiased and fair in their reporting after Lemon said Trump was “racist” and a bigot during the Democratic debate on July 30.
Lemon was one of three moderators at the debate.
“What do you say to those Trump voters who prioritize the economy over the president’s bigotry?” he asked at one point.
The clip was shared by political strategist Caleb Hull.
This is a real question CNN “journalist” Don Lemon asked tonight at the #DemDebate:
“What do you say to those Trump voters who prioritize the economy over the president’s bigotry?”
What a joke. pic.twitter.com/wQ7y6EoZZ2
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) July 31, 2019
At another point, Lemon said that Trump was racist without using the word “alleged.” He did not provide evidence for the claim.
Trump took to Twitter Wednesday to hit back: “CNN’s Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television, insinuated last night while asking a debate ‘question’ that I was a racist, when in fact I am ‘the least racist person in the world.'”
“Perhaps someone should explain to Don that he is supposed to be neutral, unbiased & fair … or is he too dumb (stupid} to understand that. No wonder CNN’s ratings (MSNBC’s also) have gone down the tubes – and will stay there until they bring credibility back to the newsroom. Don’t hold your breath!” the president added.
CNN’s Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television, insinuated last night while asking a debate “question” that I was a racist, when in fact I am “the least racist person in the world.” Perhaps someone should explain to Don that he is supposed to be neutral, unbiased & fair,…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2019
….or is he too dumb (stupid} to understand that. No wonder CNN’s ratings (MSNBC’s also) have gone down the tubes – and will stay there until they bring credibility back to the newsroom. Don’t hold your breath!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2019
CNN’s ratings have steadily dropped during the Trump presidency, a phenomenon critics attribute to the network being openly against the president.
Some highlights of CNN host and #DemDebates moderator Don Lemon’s clear bias and hatred of conservatives and President Trump. pic.twitter.com/0LsYEtqyve
— MediaResearchCenter (@theMRC) July 30, 2019
Lemon has come under fire in the past for incendiary comments, such as claiming, “The biggest terror threat in this country is white men.”
Falsely labeling a travel ban on countries that struggle to suppress terrorism as a “Muslim ban,” Lemon said, “We have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them.”
Like fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo, Lemon has defended the violent far-left extremist group, Antifa, and he has also regularly called Trump names, including “dummy.”
The conservative watchdog, Media Research Center, released a video before the debate noting Lemon appears to have a “clear bias and hatred of conservatives and President Trump.”
Lemon was also criticized by Trump 2020 campaign manager brad Parscale, who wrote Tuesday night: “So surprising that @donlemon, the least professional on stage, makes a statement instead of a question. He is complete #FakeNews and is so ostentatious!”
Trump later added his analysis of the debate in another missive, writing: “If I hadn’t won the 2016 Election, we would be in a Great Recession/Depression right now,” he wrote.
If I hadn’t won the 2016 Election, we would be in a Great Recession/Depression right now. The people I saw on stage last night, & you can add in Sleepy Joe, Harris, & the rest, will lead us into an economic sinkhole the likes of which we have never seen before. With me, only up!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2019
“The people I saw on stage last night, & you can add in Sleepy Joe, Harris, & the rest, will lead us into an economic sinkhole the likes of which we have never seen before. With me, only up!”
He also shared a quote by close ally Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.): “The lesser of two Socialists is still a Socialist!”
