Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz ripped CNN anchor Don Lemon’s “utter contempt” for people who voted for President Trump.
“Don Lemon is not a journalist,” said Gaetz. “He is a hack. He is like CNN’s professional eye-roller who wants to gasp himself out of breath at everything he sees from the president.”
Lemon has been criticized this week for a segment with guest Rick Wilson during which the CNN host teared up from laughter as Wilson mocked Trump voters. Lemon addressed the exchange on Thursday, claiming he doesn’t believe in “belittling anyone for who they are, for what they believe, or where they’re from.”
Gaetz, 37, has been one of Trump’s strongest allies during the president’s impeachment. During a speech given on the floor of the House before votes were cast to impeach Trump on two articles of abuse and obstruction, Gaetz attacked Democrats for mocking Trump supporters as “smelly Walmart shoppers and deplorables.”
“It is so indicative of the fact that they have contempt, not just for this president, not just for his allies in the Congress, but they have utter contempt for the people who voted for this president, and ultimately they have contempt for their own viewers which is probably why viewers are leaving CNN in such a fast rate,” said Gaetz.
Gaetz is the second GOP lawmaker to attack a CNN employee in the last few weeks. Republican Arizona Sen. Martha McSally called CNN reporter Manu Raju a “liberal hack” during a testy exchange in the middle of Trump’s Senate.
.@donlemon is not a journalist. He is a hack.
The Left and the mainstream media have contempt not just for President Trump, not just for his allies in Congress, but also for the American people who support President @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/juaMFgIFw6
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) February 1, 2020
