This week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared on CNN, but according to an insider claim, she was unable to speak with one of the network’s most recognizable personalities.
According to the Daily Mail, when KJP appeared on “CNN This Morning” on Thursday, she made it plain that she would rather be interviewed by Lemon’s co-host Poppy Harlow than by him.
“The White House asked for her not to be interviewed by Don,” a source told the New York Post.
The Post added that a second source close to the network said Jean-Pierre “refused” to continue if Lemon asked the queries.
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 claim, stating, “We do not discuss our conversations with media outlets, but as always, the decision regarding the anchor is made by the network and not by us.”
The news organizations also reported that CNN declined to elucidate on the matter and blamed its executives for the slight. CNN determined independently that Poppy would conduct the interview, according to a spokesperson.
Lemon has been in considerable difficulty with his employer over the course of the past few months.
During a program segment in February, he stated that Republican presidential candidate for 2024 Nikki Haley was “past her prime” in terms of age.
According to a transcript of a company conference call, Lemon’s remark caused so much consternation among network employees that he was reprimanded by CEO Chris Licht.
The morning show panel, comprised of Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow, with whom Lemon reportedly feuded in December, was discussing the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor making age an issue during the 2024 campaign, likely a jab at both President Joe Biden, who struggles to communicate at times at the age of 80, and former President Donald Trump, who is 76.
Lemon stated that Haley should not emphasize individuals being in their “prime” because she is not in her “prime” as a 51-year-old woman.
“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.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
“Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?” Harlow pressed. CONTINUE READING…
