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Ex-CNN host Don Lemon took aim at former President Barack Obama for "chatting and giggling" with President-elect Donald Trump during former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.
In a recent YouTube video, Lemon shared his scathing critique of Obama's exchange with Trump at the funeral services, slamming the pair for “yukking it up together, chatting and giggling like kids on the playground.”
Lemon noted how Trump had repeatedly spewed false claims about Obama, including that he was not American-born and was Muslim.
“How could Barack Obama, the man who faced vicious, racist conspiracies for years because of Trump, act so buddy-buddy with him? Does he not remember birtherism?” Lemon questioned.
“Perhaps more critically, does he not remember how his entire political party has been calling the man a fascist, an autocrat, a threat to democracy for months, if not years,” he continued. “People could not believe what they were seeing. Had the Democratic Party lied to them? Had Kamala Harris and Joe Biden lied to them? Is this all just a game?”
Obama and Trump were among the five living presidents who attended Carter's funeral. Video went viral of the two sitting together and having what appeared to be a friendly exchange at the funeral. It's unclear what was said, but Trump seemingly made Obama laugh at one point during their conversation.
Lemon noted that Obama may have just been “just doing his duty” by being cordial to Trump, but said laughing at his jokes was “risky” and “cringey.”
“Optics like this are things that Democrats have to consider going forward,” Lemon said.
“Your behavior around the man will matter,” he continued.
The ex-CNN host asserted that former second lady Karen Pence, who appeared to ignore Trump during the funeral, should not be“ a more courageous critic" of the president-elect than Obama.
“Your outdated impulse to prioritize good relationships with your conservative colleagues at all costs has got to end,” Lemon said. “Recall, many of these men and women have spent years valorizing a violent mob that sought to kill you. Why does Karen Pence remember that but you don’t?”
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