Rick Wilson and Wajahat Ali stand by their segment on Don Lemon's CNN show that has received a huge wave of backlash.
The segment, which aired on Saturday but only began to receive attention on Monday, featured Wilson and Ali using exaggerated southern accents to mock President Trump supporters as rednecks who are unable to read, write, or understand maps.
"'You elitists with your geography, maps, spelling,'" Ali said. "'Yeah, your reading. Your geography. Knowing other countries. Sipping your latte.'"
Lemon burst into uncontrollable laughter and had to regain his composure before resuming the program.
Trump responded to the video on Twitter by calling Lemon "the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!)."
Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!). https://t.co/iQXCc7lvCt
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2020
"Friends are now concerned about my safety," Ali said after Trump's tweet. "I refuse to be intimidated & bullied by bad faith actors who cry fake victimhood, whining about a harmless, silly 30 second clip while endorsing Trump, a cruel vulgarian who debases everyone."
Trump tweeted our CNN clip from 2 days ago. Friends are now concerned about my safety. I refuse to be intimidated & bullied by bad faith actors who cry fake victimhood, whining about a harmless, silly 30 second clip while endorsing Trump, a cruel vulgarian who debases everyone.
— Wajahat "Some Muslim...I've Never Heard Of" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 28, 2020
Wilson said the outrage about their comments was "fake" because "the MAGA world wants the freedom to attack, insult, demean, and abuse anyone who doesn’t aggressively worship Donald Trump. They can’t stand anyone who punches back, and hope they can intimidate or shame me."
1/ The fundamental underpinning of the fake outrage is simple.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 28, 2020
The MAGA world wants the freedom to attack, insult, demean, and abuse anyone who doesn’t aggressively worship Donald Trump.
They can’t stand anyone who punches back, and hope they can intimidate or shame me.
3/ Sorry. No participation trophies here for MAGAs.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 28, 2020
They hope that they can shield their bad behavior, pathologies, willful ignorance, weaknesses, credulity, nature, and worship of Donald Trump behind a “how dare you talk down to me” anger without response.
Wilson also responded to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) after he tried to fundraise off of the video.
Hey Devin!!! A few points.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 28, 2020
You're ass-deep in Trump's Ukraine scheme, you and your boy Derek Harvey.
You're not a farmer.
You're suing a pretend cow.
You're widely considered the dumbest Member of Congress, and that's WITH McCarthy pulling down the average. https://t.co/mPm8ZMjE1g