In yet another display of hyperbole and partisan outrage, former CNN host Don Lemon unleashed a tirade on his YouTube channel, targeting former President Barack Obama for what most would consider a moment of simple civility. The interaction in question? Obama sharing a light-hearted chat with President-elect Donald Trump during the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
What should have been a solemn occasion honoring one of America’s elder statesmen instead became a flashpoint for Lemon, who seemed incensed by Obama’s refusal to follow the Democratic script of perpetual hostility toward Trump.
Lemon wasted no time expressing his indignation. “How could Barack Obama, the man who faced vicious, racist conspiracies for years because of Trump, act so buddy-buddy with him?” he snapped. It was a rhetorical question that ignored the most obvious answer: basic decorum and respect for the moment.
Lemon then embarked on a laundry list of grievances, dredging up old accusations about Trump, including the “birther” controversy, claims about Obama’s faith, and other allegations from the past. “Does he not remember birtherism? Does he not remember how for years Trump lied about how he was secretly born in Africa?” Lemon raged.
But the real crux of Lemon’s fury wasn’t just historical grievances—it was fear that Democratic voters might lose faith in their leaders. “Had the Democratic Party lied to them? Had Kamala Harris and Joe Biden lied to them?” Lemon speculated, suggesting that the party’s rhetoric about Trump might no longer align with their actions.
Lemon attempted to downplay Obama’s presence at the funeral, glossing over the fact that Michelle Obama opted for a vacation rather than attending. Instead, he zeroed in on Obama’s cordial demeanor, describing his light-hearted exchange with Trump as “cringy” and “risky.”
“It was risky optics,” Lemon declared. “Democrats spent years labeling Trump a political aberration, someone cruel, if not evil. Now, laughing at his jokes on camera? That undermines everything.”
Of course, Lemon’s tirade conveniently ignored the fact that civility and professionalism have long been hallmarks of American political tradition—even between adversaries.
In a particularly revealing moment, Lemon compared Obama unfavorably to Karen Pence, who notably snubbed Melania Trump during the funeral. “You can’t allow Karen Pence to present as a more steadfast defender of democracy than yourselves,” Lemon lamented.
But here’s the irony: Karen Pence’s decision to ignore Melania was widely criticized as rude and uncalled for, even by some on the left. Yet Lemon bizarrely held it up as an example of how Democrats should behave, advocating for pettiness over principle.
For conservatives, Lemon’s meltdown is emblematic of the left’s broader problem: a refusal to engage in good faith and a near-pathological insistence on painting Trump as an existential threat to democracy, even in moments that call for unity.
Rather than criticizing Obama for acting with dignity, perhaps Lemon should take a moment to reflect on what true leadership looks like—grace, civility, and the ability to rise above petty political grievances. Unfortunately, those qualities seem to be in short supply among today’s Democratic talking heads.
