CNN anchor Don Lemon began last night’s broadcast with “The president of the United States is racist”
Yesterday, January 11th, President Donald Trump continued his pattern of offensive rhetoric when he questioned in an immigration meeting why the United States would want to take immigrants from “shithole countries.” Many were quick to respond to Trump’s comments with outrage and disbelief. CNN anchor Don Lemon took it a step further, plainly stating that Trump is a racist.
"This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon. The president of the United States is racist," Lemon began his broadcast.
"Those comments are frankly disgusting," he continued. "They're not shocking -- not even really surprising because this is who Donald Trump is -- this is what he thinks."
The Washington Post reported thatTrump made the comment in question during a meeting to discuss replacing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. When members of Congress brought up protecting immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, and nations in Africa, Trump wondered aloud why the U.S. would want immigrants from “shithole countries.”
In his broadcast, Lemon cited Trump’s preference for immigrants from Norway — a predominantly white, European country — as further proof of the president’s racism. He also called out Trump’s supporters for ignoring Trump’s bigoted remarks.
“For years, I and others have been trying to tell you, the American people, that this man was was exhibiting bigoted behavior, he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0y4eJ6N6wQ?feature=oembed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LagxU1Oq0Vw?feature=oembed
Trump denied making the “shithole countries” remark in a tweet on January 12th, but the White House, but Senator Dick Durbin confirmed on CBS Chicago that the president had made the comment.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/951793123985973248
Lemon and Trump have feuded before. In December, after the New York Times reported that Trump watches Lemon’s show out of spite, the president responded by denying that he watched the show and called Lemon the “dumbest man” on TV.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/940223974985871360
And Trump has a history of discriminatory statements. In November, he called Senator Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas” at a Navajo veterans’ event. And most recently, the president said that immigrants from Haiti “all have AIDS” and Nigerians wouldn’t want to “go back to their huts” after living in the United States.
Sadly, even in 2018, racism is still alive in our country and in the nation’s highest office. One of the first steps to ending prejudice is to bring attention to it, meaning Lemon’s candor is greatly needed. We commend Lemon for calling out racism and discriminatory rhetoric when he sees them.
