Now the White House criticizes Don Lemon: Karine Jean-Pierre says ‘There are more women in senior staff role than men’ when asked about sexist CNN anchor’s ‘past their prime’ comments
- Now even White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has chimed in on CNN’s Don Lemon’s sexist comments about women in their ‘prime’
- Lemon said on Thursday that women are in their ‘prime’ in their ’20s and 30s and maybe 40s’
- Jean-Pierre said that ‘that is something clearly that need to be addressed,’ while highlighting President Joe Biden’s record of elevating women
- Lemon and his CNN This Morning co-hosts were discussing 51-year-old Nikki Haley’s proposal for politicians over 75 to submit to competency tests
Now even White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has chimed in on CNN‘s Don Lemon’s sexist comments about women not being in their ‘prime’ past their 40s.
Asked about Lemon’s comments, which were made about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday, Jean-Pierre said at Friday’s briefing that ‘that is something clearly that need to be addressed.’
She wouldn’t take a direct slap at Lemon, who co-hosts CNN This Morning, but used the opportunity to highlight President Joe Biden‘s own record of elevating women – which includes a number of women older than 40.
‘When you look at this president’s administration – and we have talked about the numbers before – there are more women, in his senior adviser and his senior staff,’ Jean-Pierre said.
She added that Biden ‘truly takes pride and takes deep consideration into making sure and meaningful consideration to making sure there are diverse voices around here.’
Now even White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has chimed in on CNN’s Don Lemon’s sexist comments about women not being in their ‘prime’ past their 40s
On Thursday morning, Lemon (center) and his co-hosts Poppy Harlow (left) and Kaitlan Collins (right) were discussing Haley’s proposal that politicians older than 75 submit to ‘ competency tests.’
On Thursday morning, Lemon and his co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins were discussing Haley’s proposal that politicians older than 75 submit to ‘ competency tests.’
Haley had made the pitch at her campaign kickoff event Wednesday afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina – and it looked to be aimed at 80-year-old President Joe Biden, but also 76-year-old former President Donald Trump, so far Haley’s only rival in the 2024 GOP primary.
Lemon argued that discussing the merits of age in politics was ‘the wrong road to go down.’
‘She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime,’ Lemon said.
Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and an ex-South Carolina governor, is 51 and running for president on generational change.
‘Sorry, when a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,’ Lemon said.
Harlow chimed up and said, ‘What are you talking about? Prime for what?’
‘That’s not according to me,’ Lemon then insisted.
‘It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google “What is a woman in her prime” it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s,’ he said. ‘I’m not saying I agree with that. So, I think she has to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime.’
Harlow continued to prod Lemon.
‘Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?’ she asked.
Lemon was off Friday as people around the country expressed outrage.
He apologized for his comments on Twitter and to his CNN colleagues, but a number of critics have called for him to be fired.
Meanwhile, Haley raised funds for her presidential bid off the dig.
