CNN’s Bakari Sellers says US needs ‘fumigation’, 'exorcism' of MAGA on The Don Lemon Show
Bakari Sellers tells Don Lemon: The country needs a “fumigation” of MAGA.
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) February 7, 2026
Is this acceptable rhetoric from your panelists, @CNN? pic.twitter.com/yYu4ubBetx
WASHINGTON, DC: CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers described his approach to Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters with language typically reserved for pest control.
During a recent appearance on The Don Lemon Show, Sellers argued the nation needs not just persuasion, but what he called a “fumigation” of supporters of President Donald Trump.
Bakari Sellers calls for ‘fumigation’ of MAGA
On The Don Lemon Show, Sellers appeared to use imagery more commonly found in exterminator ads than in political commentary.
“I think what that episode in our country’s history showed us is that we really need a fumigation,” he said.
“We need an exorcism … We need a more aggressive approach to go in and surgically remove the cancer that is the Donald Trump MAGA movement.”
This isn’t the first time Sellers has chosen dark imagery when speaking about Trump.
In 2020, during coverage of a Trump campaign rally in Oklahoma, Sellers likened the President to someone unfit to be near crisis zones.
“I’m extremely worried, though, about the president going to Black Wall Street," he said at the time. "The reason being is because you never really want an arsonist near the house when it’s burning down.”
Bakari Sellers' past problematic comments on Trump
Sellers, a former South Carolina state representative and frequent CNN guest, has a long record of using incendiary language for Trump and his supporters.
In a 2016 CNN appearance, Sellers accused Trump of "denigrating our democracy."
“This is a long list, the litany of Donald Trump denigrating our democracy. He has no respect for the institutions of this country. Whether or not it’s the judiciary and his attacks on Judge Curiel, now he’s denigrating our democracy …” he insisted.
More recently, Sellers’ social media activity has drawn a lot of scrutiny. Last year, he notably deleted a tweet that drew backlash after he linked President Trump to a fatal Washington, DC, air crash.
"I deleted the post because timing matters. Politics at this point does not. I f***ed up, I own that," he said.
"I am very prayerful, but I’m also very frustrated, upset, and disturbed with where we are as a country. I recognize, and I will do better. The only thing that matters is rescuing the survivors and ensuring this never happens again," he added.
