President Trump called CNN anchor Don Lemon the “dumbest man on television” for accusing him of bigotry during the second round of Democratic presidential debates.
“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 said Wednesday on Twitter.
“Perhaps someone should explain to Don that he is supposed to be neutral, unbiased & fair, or is he too dumb (stupid} to understand that,” he continued. “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!”
….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
During the first night of the second set of Democratic debates 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?” Lemon’s question was slammed by critics for not showing journalistic impartiality.
The president and Lemon have a history of exchanging words, with the president routinely using the phrase “dumb” to refer to Lemon.
“Don Lemon is a lightweight – dumb as a rock,” Trump said in 2016 in a tweet.
.@dbongino You were fantastic in defending both the Second Amendment and me last night on @CNN. Don Lemon is a lightweight – dumb as a rock
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2016
In a 2017 tweet, Trump again called Lemon the “dumbest man on television,” and most recently, the president used the phrase again in a tweet from May of this year.
Another false story, this time in the Failing @nytimes, that I watch 4-8 hours of television a day – Wrong! Also, I seldom, if ever, watch CNN or MSNBC, both of which I consider Fake News. I never watch Don Lemon, who I once called the “dumbest man on television!” Bad Reporting.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2017
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 24, 2019
Trump attacked Lebron James in 2018, calling him dumber than Lemon, which prompted the CNN anchor to call the president a racist.
Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018
“The president has called a lot of people stupid,” Lemon said on CNN at the time. “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.
“Let me not mince words here,” he added. “This president trafficks in racism and is fueled by bullying.”
Lemon has since called Trump racist on numerous occasions, including a segment he did earlier this month in which he documented what he called a long history of racism from the president.
