Don Lemon attacks Karoline Leavitt after she calls Obama ape video a 'joke'

WASHINGTON, DC: Independent journalist Don Lemon did not hold back when addressing the recent controversial AI-generated video featuring Barack and Michelle Obama. 

He sharply criticized the post, calling it “plain old racism.” He also emphasized that there is “nothing funny” about it. Although Lemon did not directly target Trump in his remarks, he responded to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments.

She had described the clip as “a meme and joke.” Lemon’s reaction highlights growing concern about the misuse of AI to create misleading and offensive content. Lemon clearly mentioned Leavitt and told her to 'f**k off'. 

Don Lemon slams Karoline Leavitt

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon made it clear on his podcast that Leavitt’s comments about Trump’s now-deleted ape video of Barack and Michelle Obama were completely unacceptable. 

He condemned Leavitt’s statement, saying, “Not a joke. This is not a joke. That's not politics. That is just plain old racism, and we should say it plain and simple. It is just racism; even Republicans denounce it. It was so egregious that it had to be removed and yet... Caroline Leavitt, who is the White House Press Secretary, had the nerve, had the gall to say that it was, oh, this is just a joke."

"It's a joke from 'The Lion King' that people needed to learn to take a joke. Are you out of your fucking mind, Caroline Leavitt?” Lemon continued, “No, no, no. There is nothing funny about depicting the former president."

"As a matter of fact, as apes are monkeys or anything, it is revolting. Telling Black people or anyone who is offended by this that it's a joke is vile, and it shows that you shouldn't even be in this job," he added. 

He continued, “It shows your incompetence. Everyone thinks, oh my God, you know, she's great, she said. Donald Trump always says that? No, she's not. Anyone can stand there at a podium, call on a reporter, then cut them off, not let them follow up, and call somebody else's name."

He concluded, "It's not that hard to do, especially if you can just lie with impunity. It's not that hard. So Caroline Leavitt, f**k off. For this bullshit. Not a joke.”

Karoline Leavitt dismisses outrage, calls video a 'joke'

Karoline Leavitt, when first asked for comment, said, “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from 'The Lion King'. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

The video had been shared on the president's Truth Social late Thursday, February 5, at 11:44 pm. Following the backlash, the White House announced around noon Friday, February 6, that the post had been removed from the president's page. Later on Friday afternoon, a White House official said that a “staffer erroneously made the post.”