Donald Trump on Wednesday called CNN anchor Don Lemon “dumb as a rock” after a heated segment on the GOP presidential nominee’s controversial remarks about Hillary Clinton and supporters of the Second Amendment.
“Don Lemon is a lightweight — dumb as a rock,” Trump tweeted, praising former Secret Service agent and Florida Republican congressional candidate Dan Bongino for defending him on the network the previous night.
{mosads}Bongino, who said he’s backing Trump but is not a “Trump surrogate,” defended the GOP nominee amid backlash over the businessman’s comment that “Second Amendment people” could stop Clinton, his Democratic rival.
“It’s clear he’s trying to motivate people to go out and vote based on the potential for an open Supreme Court seat,” Bongino argued during his CNN appearance Tuesday night.
Bongino then accused Lemon of having a preconceived idea that Trump was calling for violence, saying the CNN anchor “didn’t come into this with a clear and open mind.”
“What you’re saying right now makes no sense,” Lemon told the guest.
“I’m sitting at home, I’m watching Donald Trump. I have two ears and I have two eyes and I can see the reactions of people behind me. We’re not stupid,” Lemon said, referring to CNN analysts on the panel.
“We’re just supposed to be stupid enough not to understand that and to believe the spin coming from the surrogates and from people like you?” Lemon asked. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“I’m ashamed that you’re talking to me as if I’m a child,” Bongino fired back.
“You don’t know crap about this, Don, you’re a TV guy! I was a Secret Service agent. Now cut off my mic! Do what you wanna do,” he added.
Trump shared video of the segment and a tweet on Lemon shortly before firing off another one aimed at MSNBC and its morning political program, “Morning Joe.” Its hosts also criticized his Clinton remark.
Trump has been pushing back on criticism over his remark while discussing the possibility of Clinton appointing liberal Supreme Court justices when he suggested “Second Amendment people” could stop her.