Former CNN host Don Lemon took aim at MSNBC's Joe Scarborough after a fiery debate on Scarborough's show about civility toward the incoming Trump administration. The exchange centered on whether it was necessary to show politeness to a president-elect many had fiercely opposed.
Scarborough and former RNC chair Michael Steele clashed over the topic. Steele pointed out, "Civility is a two-way street," noting that while 78 million voted for Trump, 82 million supported Biden. Scarborough snapped back, "Tell us something we don’t know," intensifying the debate.
Lemon criticized Scarborough during his "Live at Five" podcast, accusing him of hypocrisy. He unleashed a profanity-laced rant, condemning the idea of civility toward Trump after Scarborough had repeatedly labeled him a threat to democracy.
"If someone disrespects my loved one, I don’t have to smile in their f---ing face!" Lemon said. He pointed to insults hurled at Michelle Obama, adding, "I’m not smiling in your face if you’re calling my sister or wife a man. F--- you!"
Lemon questioned the broader implications of Scarborough's stance. "What does that mean in the broader sense of the fabric of our society?" he asked, suggesting it signaled acceptance of harmful behavior.
Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, hosts of "Morning Joe," have faced backlash since meeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago after the election. Critics, including Washington Post columnist Eric Wemple, accused them of signaling a softening stance on Trump, potentially alienating their liberal audience.
In a column, Wemple wrote, "Why cordon off a soul-searching segment of ‘Morning Joe’ for this quasi-revelation? Could those folks have driven the ratings dip at ‘Morning Joe’ immediately following Monday’s announcement?"
Lemon didn’t hold back on how Scarborough should approach the new administration. "Grinning with someone you’ve called a fascist isn’t normal," he said. "People are tired of normalizing bad behavior."
Lemon has been outspoken about Trump and his supporters, referring to the former president as a "cult leader." He hasn’t shied away from harsh words, calling some Trump voters "dumb f---ing idiots" and doubling down on the remarks when criticized. "Too f---ing bad," he declared to those offended.