Don Lemon Shreds ‘Trashy’ New Donald Trump Move: ‘Think About If The Black President Did This’
Donald Trump’s latest legal move has sparked outrage and renewed debates about power, privilege, and double standards in American politics. Former CNN host Don Lemon did not hold back while reacting to the news on his show Monday, arguing that if former President Barack Obama had done anything remotely similar, the backlash would have been immediate and overwhelming.
Lemon criticized Trump’s massive lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which originally sought $10 billion in damages after Trump’s tax returns were leaked by a federal contractor during his first term. Even though the lawsuit was eventually settled for about $1.776 billion, critics have raised concerns about where the money could go and how it may be used politically. Some Democrats have reportedly described the arrangement as a political “slush fund,” accusing Trump of turning a legal settlement into something that benefits his allies.
During his show, Lemon expressed disbelief over what he sees as a major double standard in how political leaders are treated in America. He argued that Trump continues to do things that many people believe no Black president could ever get away with. Lemon became emotional and frustrated as he described the situation, saying Trump is essentially using taxpayer money connected to a fund named after America’s founding to reward people accused of helping damage democratic institutions.
Lemon urged viewers to imagine an alternative scenario where Obama had done the same thing. He asked people to picture a Black president suing his own government, privately settling the case, and then creating a billion-dollar fund without strict congressional oversight while directing money toward political allies. According to Lemon, the public reaction would have been explosive.
He argued that Republicans, conservative media outlets, and political commentators would have immediately labeled it corruption or even treason. Lemon claimed the outrage would have dominated television, radio, and online discussions nonstop for years. In his view, the political establishment would have moved quickly to punish Obama if he had attempted anything similar.
Lemon also suggested race plays a major role in how the public reacts to powerful political figures. He argued that many critics would have used harmful stereotypes against Obama if he had behaved this way, portraying it as proof of corruption or abuse of power. But because Trump is the one involved, Lemon believes many people simply move on as if it is normal political behavior.
He went even further by comparing the attacks Republicans made for years against the so-called “Biden crime family” to the controversies surrounding the Trump family. Lemon bluntly stated that, in his opinion, the real political family surrounded by legal controversies is the Trump family, not the Bidens.
The comments reflect the growing divide in American politics, where supporters and critics of Trump often see the same events in completely different ways. Trump’s supporters argue he is fighting back against what they believe was political targeting by government agencies and prosecutors. Critics, however, see the settlement and the surrounding legal battles as another example of Trump using his influence and political power in ways that would never be tolerated from other leaders.
