A segment on "CNN Tonight with Don Lemon" is drawing heavy criticism after guests Wajahat Ali and Rick Wilson spent some time mocking President Trump and his supporters as Americans who can't read, write, or read a map.
Wilson began the parade of insults on Saturday when he said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "knows deep in his heart that Donald Trump couldn’t find a Ukraine on a map if you had the letter U and an actual crane. He knows this is an administration defined by the ignorance of the world. That’s part of him playing to their base."
Describing Trump's base as a "credulous, boomer rube" demographic, Wilson then used a southern accent to state: "'Donald Trump’s a smart one and y’all elitists are dumb.'"
Host Don Lemon burst into laughter as Wilson mocked the voters.
"'You elitists with your geography, maps, spelling,'" Ali joined in. "'Yeah, your reading. Your geography. Knowing other countries. Sipping your latte.'"
"All those lines on the map,'" Wilson added as Lemon continued his uncontrollable laughter.
"'Only them elitists know where Ukraine is,'" Ali said as Wilson was also laughing.
"Sorry, I apologize," Ali jokingly said. "It was Rick’s fault. I blame Rick."
"That was good. Sorry," Lemon said as he tried to regain his composure.
The segment was widely circulated and criticized Monday evening.
If you want to give people a reason to vote Trump as a screw you to the media, keep airing segments like these https://t.co/hbr1GVjJWw
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) January 28, 2020
Such gross bigotry. Also, this was worse than a recycled dad joke ?? https://t.co/s15fyuEFdl
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) January 28, 2020
This isn't disdain or disagreement. What Wajahat, Don, & Rick showed was a disrespect, hatred, & mockery for their fellow man who disagree. I don't want to hear @JakeTapper, @andersoncooper, @BrianStelter, @ChrisCuomo, or anyone on @CNN lecture about their higher level of decency https://t.co/h47wnkcUCF
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 28, 2020
A campaign commercial that writes itself. Good grief. https://t.co/NMIOB8LENL
— Nate Madden (@NateOnTheHill) January 28, 2020