OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
CNN host Don Lemon got ridiculed on his own network after making disparaging comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s age.
For weeks CNN has been showing the final segment of Bill Maher’s “Real Time” show on its network on Friday nights, and on this week’s episode ABC political commentator Sarah Isgur shredded the “CNN This Morning” host.
“As Don Lemon told us on CNN, women actually can’t run for president because he said we’re past our prime once we get to our 40s. But since you have to be 35 to run, it’s like this really tiny window between 35 and 40,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience before Maher changed the topic.
And she was not the only one to take issue with Lemon.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC spokesman John Kirby also swiped at the CNN host when they spoke to the press on Friday.
The pair referenced that they were talking about “age” behind the scenes and it caught the attention of one reporter who asked them about it.
“And joining me today from the National Security Council is John Kirby, who will preview the trip. John? Do you want to come up? You’re welcome,” the press secretary said.
“Great. Yeah, sure. Yeah. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t rushing anything,” Kirby said.
“It’s all — it’s all yours. No, no. I know we were talking about something else back there,” Jean-Pierre said.
“We — we were —,” Kirby said.
“But we’re not going to mention that. (Laughs.)” the press secretary said.
“Yeah,” Kirby said. “Well, now you opened it up.”
“(Laughs.) I know I did,” Jean-Pierre said.
“It had something to do with my age, I think,” Kirby said.
After Kirby spoke the pair made another reference.
“With that, I’m happy to take some questions,” Kirby said.
“John, neither of us have hit our prime yet,” Jean-Pierre said.
“Beg your pardon? (Laughter.) Oh, oh, we’re back to my age again. Yeah. (Laughs.)” the press secretary said.
As the questions went on a reporter wanted to know more about the reference.
Q And then, switching topics. On a topic that you brought up —
- JEAN-PIERRE: Uh-oh. (Laughs.)
Q — with John Kirby earlier —
- JEAN-PIERRE: Oh.
Q — when you said that neither you or he are — have “hit your prime yet.” Does the President have anything to say about this national conversation that was sparked after a claim that was seemingly made in defense of the President, that Nikki Haley is not in her prime because women hit their prime in their 20, 30s, and 40s?
- JEAN-PIERRE: You know, I’m not going to comment directly to that. That is something, clearly, that needs to be addressed by —
Q Right, I only bring it up because you — you brought it up with John.
- JEAN-PIERRE: No, no. No, no. I’m going to say something. Just give me a second. I — I have something to say.
When you look at this President’s administration, and we have talked about the numbers before, it is — there are more women in his senior — in his senior advisor, in his senior staff roles than men. And I think when you think about that, you see a President that truly — that truly takes pride and takes deep consideration into making sure — and meaningful consideration to making sure there are diverse voices around him.
And I think that’s impor- — that’s important. And I — and so what I want to say is: Just watch his actions, watch what he’s done.
You just asked me about — about — about Julie Su. And I laid out what the President has done in having the most diverse administration. And so I think all you have to do is look at the numbers, look at the people around him, look what he’s been able to do, look how he’s lift up different communities, including women. And I’m just going to leave it there.
It is, clearly, truly a priority for him. And I’ll just leave it there.
