CNN’s Don Lemon blows up over Santorum remarks

CNN host Don Lemon slammed Rick Santorum Monday night after the CNN senior political commentator said he “misspoke” during recent remarks dismissing the influence Native American culture has had on the U.S.

“I cannot believe the first words out of his mouth weren’t ‘I’m sorry. I said something ignorant, I need to learn about the history of this country.’ No contrition, didn’t talk about the suffering that Native Americans have had to deal with in this country. It was, I mean, Rick Santorum, really?” Lemon said to host Chris Cuomo after the interview.

“Did he actually think it was a good idea for him to come on television and try to whitewash the whitewash that he whitewashed? I mean, it was horrible. It was horrible and insulting, and I apologize to the viewers who were insulted by it, because I was sitting in my office, furious, because he’s done it so many times. So many times, and it’s just, I’m sorry, it was just so egregious and insulting,” Lemon added.

>> @DonLemon‘s reaction to Rick Santorum’s comments: “I apologize to the viewers who were insulted by this. I was sitting in my office, furious, because he’s done it so many times. So many times…” pic.twitter.com/UD00zTalI7

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 4, 2021

Santorum received widespread backlash last month after speaking at a conference hosted by the Young America’s Foundation, where he said that America was birthed from “nothing” and that “there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”

His remarks were met with criticism online, with some calling on CNN to remove the former Pennsylvania senator and onetime presidential candidate from his position at the network.

Santorum told Cuomo on Monday night that he was talking about “the founding of our country” and “was not trying to dismiss Native Americans.”

Lemon also seemed to be frustrated with Cuomo’s decision to bring Santorum on the program.

“I had him on because I wanted people to see what this is. There is no mystery for you guys,” Cuomo said.

“People know what it is, Chris,” Lemon responded.

Don Lemon is really in no mood for Chris Cuomo’s excuses on Rick Santorum.

“We are not getting anywhere… We got to go because we are not going to agree.”

Cuomo: “What’s the solution?”

Lemon: “I got a solution, anyway, not my decision. Thank you, see ya later!” pic.twitter.com/lkxSqeqxdw

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) May 4, 2021

The duo ended the back and forth on a tense note, concluding that they were not going to agree on the merits of the interview.

“We gotta go, because we’re not gonna agree,” Lemon said.

“We agree on the problem. What’s the solution, we gotta figure it out,” Cuomo said.

“I got a solution but, anyways, not my decision,” Lemon responded.