President Trump on Wednesday ripped into CNN host Don Lemon for accusing him of bigotry during Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate.
“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,’” Trump tweeted.
“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!”
On Tuesday, Lemon asked Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar: “What do you say to those Trump voters who prioritize the economy over the president’s bigotry?” — a question that critics said showed a lack of objectivity.
The comment was just the latest time the president has referred to the CNN host as “dumb.”
“Don Lemon is a lightweight — dumb as a rock,” the president tweeted in 2016.
Lemon, who is black, responded at the time by accusing Trump of using a racist trope.
“The president has called a lot of people stupid. Some of those people are white. But I would just like to note that referring to an African American as dumb — remember this is America — is one of the oldest canards of America’s racist past and present: that black people are of inferior intelligence,” he said on the air at the time.
“Let me not mince words here. This president traffics in racism and is fueled by bullying.”
In 2017, Trump also called Lemon the dumbest man on TV on Twitter, which he repeated in a May tweet.
“Wow! CNN Ratings are WAY DOWN, record lows. People are getting tired of so many Fake Stories and Anti-Trump lies. Chris Cuomo was rewarded for lowest morning ratings with a prime time spot – which is failing badly and not helping the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon!” he tweeted.
The new attack on Lemon followed weeks of controversy over the president’s criticism of African Americans and other minorities, including Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings.
He has also lashed out at the so-called “Squad” of ultra-left freshman congresswomen — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Ilhan Omar — whom he told to “go back” to where they came from.