A CNN panel from Saturday night has gone viral this week, showing two guests appearing on air with anchor Don Lemon, mocking Trump supporters during the network’s impeachment coverage.
The discussion features New York Times columnist and CNN contributor Wajahat Ali with ex-GOP strategist Never Trumper Rick Wilson making fun of those who might ever vote for President Donald Trump.
Wilson kicked things off by first insulting the president’s intelligence before characterizing Trump’s supporters as ignorant:
Trump couldn’t find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter “U” and a picture of an actual physical crane next to it. He knows that this is an administration defined by ignorance of the world, and so that’s partly him playing to their base and playing to their audience — the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump.
Wilson and Ali then continued with a fake accents to mock those who put Trump into office as unsophisticated backwoods hicks.
“Donald Trump’s the smart one, and y’all — y’all elitists are dumb,” Wilson said.
“You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling!” Ali chimed in.
“Your math and your readin’!” Wilson responded as the three men laughed hysterically at the belittlement of those alienated by media elites such as themselves.
America, this is what CNN thinks of you…
pic.twitter.com/puuVjRLlw1— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 28, 2020
The on-air exchange has prompted explosive backlash against CNN and those on the panel. President Donald Trump responded on Twitter Monday night to take a jab at Lemon. “Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!),” the president wrote.
Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!). https://t.co/iQXCc7lvCt
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2020
That journalists continue to speak this way in 2020 is so telling. Instead of even mild pushback from the anchor, there was laughter. Some of them don't get it, some of them do and don't care. https://t.co/qOAsJu5irn pic.twitter.com/OetCZ0VwdK
— Emily Jashinsky (@emilyjashinsky) January 27, 2020
No better way for media elites to win over the support of alienated voters like mocking them as backwoods hicks.
“You elitists… with your math and your reading.”pic.twitter.com/QahKTnzamJ
— Tristan Justice (@JusticeTristan) January 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1222166904716058624?s=20
