Trump blasts Don Lemon as 'dumbest man on television' after CNN panel mocks the president's supporters as 'credulous rubes'

• Donald Trump lambasted CNN anchor Don Lemon as the "dumbest man on television" after a Saturday show during which the president's supporters were mocked.
• The conversation with panelists Rick Wilson and Wajahat Ali centered on State Secretary Mike Pompeo's heavy-handed interview about Ukraine and Marie Yovanovitch with NPR host Mary Louise Kelly.
• Lemon laughed uproariously while Wilson and Ali used accents to paint a picture of Trump supporters as people who are uneducated and can't find places on maps.
• Wilson called Trump's base the "the credulous Boomer rube demo."
• Social media users are torn: some believe that Lemon and his guests only pointed out the obvious, while others say this snobbery only reinforces their belief in Trump.
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CNN anchor Don Lemon laughed until he cried during a Saturday show that featured panelists Rick Wilson, a former GOP strategist, and New York Times columnist and CNN contributor Wajahat Ali who mocked President Donald Trump's supporters - Wilson going so far as to call them "the credulous Boomer rube demo."

The topic at hand? State Secretary Mike Pompeo's tense interview about Ukraine and Marie Yovanovitch with NPR host Mary Louise Kelly, after which she said he yelled the f-word at her.

"[Pompeo] also knows deep within his heart that Donald 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," Wilson said, prompting Lemon to burst into laughter. "He knows that this is, you know, an administration defined by ignorance of the world. And so that's partly him playing to the base and playing to their audience. You know, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump."

By then, Lemon was laughing too hard to speak so Wilson continued in a mock Southern accent, apparently imitating people who voted for the president: "Donald Trump's the smart one - any y'all elitists are dumb!"

Ali joined the mockery with: "You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling!"

And then the pair went back and forth, while Lemon chortled, dabbing his eyes with a tissue.

"Your math and your reading!" Wilson said.

"Your geography, knowing other countries, sipping your latte," Ali added.

"All those lines on the map!" Wilson exclaimed.

"Only them elitists know where Ukraine is," Ali said as Wilson laughed as well. He then apologized and said jokingly, "You know what, it was Rick's fault. I blame Rick."

Lemon, who was at this point nearly out of breath from laughing, asked the pair to "hold on," adding, "That was a good one. I needed that."

When Trump heard about the panel discussion, he took to his social platform of choice to castigate Lemon.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222028267865223170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!). https://t.co/iQXCc7lvCt

Ivanka Trump also entered the fray, calling the conversation "disgusting."

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222126462347681793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
You consistently make fun of half the country and then complain that it is divided.

The arrogance, mocking accents and smug ridicule of this nation's 'Real Elites' is disgusting. https://t.co/p3RQzymx4s

And Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo) deemed the conversation a new "low, even for CNN."

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222166034058182657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I'm disappointed to see this kind of smug rhetoric from Don Lemon and his guests.

Painting a majority of Americans as illiterate and uneducated "rubes" is low, even for CNN.https://t.co/BplTZesD9M

For their part, Twitter users are split. Some, including Steve Krakauer, an ex-CNN digital producer, were critical of the trio, saying such instances fuel Trump's base and reelection chances.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1221988232528826369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The arrogance, the dismissiveness, the smug cackling, the accents.

If Donald Trump wins re-election this year, I'll remember this brief CNN segment late one Saturday night in January as the perfect encapsulation for why it happened. pic.twitter.com/8kQ6zN9AZVTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222155975894978563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Insulting @realDonaldTrump supporters is a surefire way to ensure his re-election this fall. You can call us a "basket of deplorables" or accuse us of not liking geography, but there's no doubt that the #MAGA army knows how to mobilize and win. https://t.co/OrgTNbTKUI #gapolTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222005369196642304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Congrats @realDonaldTrump on your 2020 victory. The immeasurably obnoxious @donlemon and his imbecilic ilk truly have no capacity for introspection. Your smugness benefits Orange Man Bad. Stop being so progressively arrogant. What schmucks! https://t.co/tkM21kx7DT

Others believe what CNN said to be true. They noted too that Trump supporters are quick to judge, but can't handle being on the receiving end of such comments. Ali was among them.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222149058657058817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Seeing reaction to the Don Lemon interview and, again, I just think it's incredible how the crowd that calls other people "snowflakes" has a meltdown in response to the slightest things.Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222159595621273601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Trump crying about Don Lemon picking on him is perfect.#TrumpFlake pic.twitter.com/GLVDLOdTGsTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222132325330243584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Trump supporters: We love that Trump says what's on his mind and doesn't hold back.

Also Trump supporters: How dare Don Lemon say what's on his mind and not hold back. #TuesdayThoughtsTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1221902681184395264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
We did. Not going to apologize for it either. If you're willing to believe and promote these absurd and dangerous lies, well, you deserve to be mocked for it: "CNNs Don Lemon Cracks Up As Rick Wilson, Wajahat Ali Trash Trump Supporters As Ignorant Rubes" https://t.co/gK3s42yj6c

Actress Mia Farrow was among those who also pointed out that Trump ridiculed Lemon, while it was Wilson who actually made the jokes.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222166934365646848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Don Lemon was laughing at a remark by Rick Wilson- yet it is Don Lemon you bully. Again. We see who you areTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222135478972895233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I wonder why Trump went after Don Lemon instead of Rick Wilson who actually made the joke. White could the reason probably be? pic.twitter.com/1wRWX3HXQkTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222155690740940800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I really wonder why president Trump decided to go after Don Lemon when the actual joke was made by Rick Wilson (who is ready for all the insults by the way). If we say what the reason is, we may just get sanctioned.

I mean Don just laughed. That's all#racismTweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1222163822833569793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Let's face the truth - Donald Trump* went after Don Lemon because Trump* was humiliated on national television by a gay, black man., but poor Trump* has no idea that we're all laughing as hard as Don Lemon at this Presidency.#TuesdayThoughts

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