Former CNN anchor Don Lemon slammed supporters of President Donald Trump as "really f—king racist." He also said Black MAGA voters aren’t "rational."
"I don’t think you can be Black and be a rational MAGA person, I think you can be Black and be a Republican," Lemon told Bill Maher on the Club Random podcast.
Maher, host of HBO’s "Real Time," argued that Black Trump supporters would find Lemon’s remarks "very insulting."
"Well, the truth is often insulting," Lemon replied.
This isn’t Lemon’s first harsh critique of Trump voters. In December, he called them "f—king idiots" on his podcast, mocking their "stupid MAGA brain."
"You're so f---ing stupid and you deserve it. You f---ing deserve it because you're so dumb. Yes, I am gloating over your stupidity," Lemon said about a MAGA dispute involving H-1B visas.
Lemon spent 17 years at CNN before being fired in 2023. His short-lived morning show tenure was marked by conflicts with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.
He faced backlash after stating Republican Nikki Haley was past her "prime" for being in her 50s. That controversy and others led to his dismissal under former CEO Chris Licht.
After CNN, Lemon attempted a show on X, but Elon Musk terminated their deal before it started. Lemon then sued Musk for "fraud, negligence and reputational damage."
In the interview, Lemon broadened his criticism beyond Black MAGA supporters, labeling the movement itself racist. Maher mentioned Tom Hanks' portrayal of a Trump supporter refusing to shake a Black character's hand.
"Let’s be honest, there’s a huge faction of the MAGA movement that’s really f—king racist," Lemon responded.
Lemon also argued voting for Trump might be "egregious" even for non-racist supporters. Such voters, he suggested, would need to "overlook" racism within the MAGA base.