Former CNN host Don Lemon appeared on “OutFront” Monday, where he addressed the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and the subsequent blame-shifting by Trump’s allies.
Lemon took issue with Trump’s supporters, including JD Vance, who have suggested that Democrats are responsible for the attempted assassination. “That’s an issue,” Lemon said, pointing out that Trump’s own rhetoric has contributed to a toxic atmosphere.
He went on to catalog a litany of Trump’s inflammatory statements, including his characterization of the media as “the enemy of the people” and his labeling of various individuals and groups as “crooked,” “deranged,” and “fascists.” Lemon noted that Trump’s language has been compared to that of Adolf Hitler and has been used to demonize immigrants, minorities, and other groups.
Lemon argued that if Trump wants to be taken seriously and have his critics stop calling him a threat to democracy, he should stop engaging in behavior that undermines democratic norms. “Perhaps he shouldn’t be trying to overturn elections, overthrow the government, and inciting insurrections,” Lemon said. “If he doesn’t want people to be honest about who he is and what he’s doing, then he should stop threatening democracy.”
Lemon’s comments came as part of a broader discussion about the state of American politics and the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric. He emphasized the need for politicians to be held accountable for their words and actions, and for the public to be aware of the potential consequences of divisive language.
