Social media users have slammed former CNN host Don Lemon for mocking a recent video of former First Lady Melania Trump discussing the assassination attempt on her husband and asking questions about that fateful day.
On multiple social media accounts this week, Mr Lemon shared videos of himself looking confused and frustrated in response to a video in which Melania Trump called the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump “horrific” and “tragic” and added that there was “more to the story.” One of Mr Trump's supporters, Corey Comperatore, was killed in the shooting.
X users slammed Mr Lemon for mocking Melania Trump's opinion of her husband's near assassination, with one critic calling his comments “sick”.
“The attempt on my husband's life was a horrifying and harrowing experience, and the silence that now surrounds it feels oppressive. I cannot help but wonder why law enforcement did not arrest the perpetrator before my speech,” the former first lady said in a video released ahead of the release of her memoir, “Melania.”
“There is definitely more to this story and we need to uncover the truth,” she added.
Shortly after the video was released, Lemon shared a video of himself overlaying his own reaction over the former first lady's video.
As Melania Trump's video plays, Mr Lemon reacts to her comments by shaking his head, rolling his eyes, scratching his head and appearing confused. After Mr Trump's video ends, the video zooms in on Mr Lemon, who appears to be holding his head in his hands and looking angry.
The YouTube version of Lemon's clip featured additional mockery of Trump's clip, with the caption “Why does it look like an AI?”
TikTok Libs shared a TikTok version of Lemon's video to X on Wednesday, commenting, “Don Lemon mocks Melania Trump's distress after being nearly groped on the genitals.”*“My husband's country. Illness.”
Lemon appears to have removed the video from his TikTok page, but it is still available on YouTube.
Lemon faced backlash from conservatives, with some calling the former CNN host “attention-starved.”
Conservative commentator Paul Cipla asked: “@donlemon, can you empathize with a human being for once in your life and not think about politics?”
“If someone tried to kill a former president and actually killed innocent people in the crowd, we should all be saddened. Don Lemon, try harder,” radio host Stacey Washington wrote.
Journalist Ian Miles Chong said: “What a sick nutcase.”
Sky News presenter Rita Panahi commented: “@donlemon, you're really trying to make fun of a woman haunted by an assassination attempt on her husband and so many questions that remain unanswered to this day. Classy.”
“There is no more pathetic, attention-hungry human on the planet. What sane person would ridicule a wife over an assassination attempt on her husband? Don Lemon, people!” wrote Fox News contributor Joe Concha.
Lemon and Trump did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
