OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took time out for CNN this week, but according to an insider report, she had no time from one of the network’s most recognizable names.
As reported by the Daily Mail, when KJP appeared Thursday on “CNN This Morning,” she made it clear that her preference was to be interviewed by Poppy Harlow, Lemon’s co-host, and not him.
“The White House asked for her not to be interviewed by Don,” a source told the New York Post.
A second source close to the network said Jean-Pierre “refused” to go on if Lemon was asking the questions, The Post added.
The Daily Mail said: “Although the reasoning behind her request is not clear, insiders believe that it may be due to Lemon’s recent on-air gaffes or down to previous tense on-air exchanges in which Lemon grilled Biden’s press secretary over his mental and physical fitness.”
A spokesperson for the press secretary dismissed the report saying, “We’re not going to detail our conversations with any media outlets, but as always, the anchor is the network’s call and not ours.”
The news outlets also said that CNN declined to elaborate on the matter but said its executives were responsible for the snub. “The decision to have Poppy conduct the interview was made independently by CNN,” said a spokesperson.
Lemon has been in quite a bit of trouble with his employer over the past several months.
In February, he offered an apology of sorts after he claimed that 2024 GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley was “past her prime,” age-wise, during a show segment.
According to a transcript of a company call, Lemon’s remark caused so much consternation among fellow network staff members he even earned a rebuke from CEO Chris Licht.
The morning show panel, which consists of Kaitlan Collins, who Lemon reportedly feuded with in December, and Poppy Harlow, was discussing the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor making age an issue during the 2024 campaign, likely a swipe at both President Joe Biden — who, at 80, struggles at times to communicate — and former President Donald Trump, who is 76.
Lemon said that Haley should not focus on people being in their “prime” because she is not in her “prime” as a woman in her 50s (she is 51).
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, When a woman is in their prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he said before Harlow interrupted.
“What are you talking — Wait…,” she said.
“That’s not according to me,” Lemon responded.
“Prime for what?” Harlow said.
“It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s,” Lemon said.
“Forties! Oh my God, I have another decade,” Harlow said.
Don Lemon: "Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, and 30s, and maybe 40s…"
Poppy Harlow: "Are you talking about prime for like child bearing?"
"Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!" pic.twitter.com/n1HmtkWTpl
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
“I’m not saying I agree with that. So I think she has to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime,” Lemon said, stumbling as he backtracked.
“Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?” Harlow pressed.
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it. Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime? It says 20s, 30s and 40s. I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politics are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve. She would not be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is,” Lemon said.
After the broadcast ended, Lemon took to Twitter to offer up a mea culpa of sorts.
“The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it. A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day,” he wrote.
Following the exchange on-air, the New York Post reported that a “furious” Harlow walked off the set, per the New York Post.
