Don Lemon Criticizes Obama’s Friendly Chat with Trump at Carter Funeral: ‘It Was Risky, Kind of Cringy’
Many who tuned in to watch Jimmy Carter’s funeral were surprised at how friendly Donald Trump and Barack Obama seemed to be. (AFP via Getty Images)
In the January 12 episode of his podcast The Don Lemon Show, journalist and political commentator Don Lemon expressed disappointment with former President Barack Obama for engaging in a friendly chat with President-elect Donald Trump during the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
The funeral, held at the Washington National Cathedral on January 9, saw Obama and Trump seated next to each other, sharing a lighthearted moment, with Obama even smiling at one of Trump’s remarks, according to Mediaite.
The interaction quickly became a focal point of the event. When asked about their exchange, Trump later described it as “very friendly” and suggested they “probably” liked each other. However, Lemon was critical of the optics, expressing concern over how such a display might appear to the public.
“People had many, many questions. How could Barack Obama, the man who faced vicious, racist conspiracies for years because of Trump, act so buddy-buddy with him?” Lemon asked in a YouTube video titled Trump & Obama Yucking it Up!
People had many, many questions. How could Barack Obama, the man who faced vicious, racist conspiracies for years because of Trump act so buddy-buddy with him? Does he not remember birtherism? Does he not remember how for years Trump lied about how he was secretly born in Africa? Does he not remember how Trump suggested that he was secretly a Muslim who was sympathetic to terrorist groups and terrorist causes? Perhaps more critically, does he not remember how his entire political party has been calling the man a fascist, an autocrat, a threat to democracy for months if not years? People could not believe what they were seeing. Had the Democratic Party lied to them? Had Kamala Harris and Joe Biden lied to them?
Lemon reminded listeners of Trump’s promotion of the birther conspiracy, which falsely claimed Obama was born in Africa, and Trump’s suggestions that Obama was a Muslim sympathetic to terrorist groups. “Does he not remember how his entire political party has been calling the man a fascist, an autocrat, a threat to democracy for months if not years?” Lemon continued.
While Lemon acknowledged that Obama was “doing his duty” by attending the funeral, he criticized the public laughter and camaraderie with Trump. “I think he had no choice, but to laugh at Trump’s jokes on camera? It was risky, kind of cringy,” Lemon remarked.
Look, in reality, Barack Obama was just doing his duty. The former president had died and he inevitably was going to have to brush shoulders with Trump there in the same presidential club. Right. What was the alternative? Not to watch Jimmy Carter be laid to rest? Now, I think he had no choice, but laughing at Trump’s jokes on camera? It was risky, kind of cringy. Optics like this are things that Democrats have to consider going forward. They spent years, if not months, if not years labeling Trump a political aberration, someone cruel, if not evil, outside the norm. Their voters may feel lied to if they appear to embrace him now. You can’t just memory hole comparing someone to Hitler. So, Democrats, you’ve got to keep in mind ahead of Trump’s inauguration and frankly, for the next four years, like what that looks like, your behavior around the man will matter. It does matter. You can’t allow Karen Pence to present as a more steadfast defender of democracy, a more courageous critic of Trump, than yourselves. Democrats, your outdated impulse to prioritize good relationships with your conservative colleagues at all costs. It’s got to end.
He warned that such interactions could undermine the Democratic Party’s messaging. “Optics like this are things that Democrats have to consider going forward. They spent years, if not months, if not years labeling Trump a political aberration, someone cruel, if not evil, outside the norm. Their voters may feel lied to if they appear to embrace him now.”
Lemon also noted former Vice President Mike Pence’s wife, Karen Pence, ignoring Trump at the ceremony, saying, “You can’t allow Karen Pence to present as a more steadfast defender of democracy, a more courageous critic of Trump, than yourselves.”
Commenters on Lemon’s video largely defended Obama, arguing that cordiality at a somber event should not be politicized. However, the debate underscores the tension between political messaging and public decorum.
