CNN host Don Lemon got into a heated argument with Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy about the White House's dispute with a Gold Star widow and her congresswoman, saying Monday he and America should be "hysterical" about what's happening.
Ruddy, an ally of President Donald Trump, defended Trump's conduct in disputing the details of a phone call he placed last week to Myeshia Johnson, the widow of slain Sgt. La David Johnson. Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson (Fla.) told the media Trump upset Johnson with how he spoke in the call, and Trump and Chief of Staff John Kelly have slammed Wilson for her remarks.
Then, Mrs. Johnson herself told ABC on Monday morning that Wilson's account of the call was correct and the president had not remembered her husband's name, leading Trump to quickly tweet that he had in fact spoken his name several times.
Ruddy accused Lemon and the press of wanting to distract from his achievements, leading Lemon to respond they were there to talk about this controversy, Mediaite reported.
"Let's stick to the topic at hand," Lemon said.
"Don, I hate to say it, but you're almost as hysterical as Congresswoman Wilson," Ruddy said.
"I should be hysterical," Lemon said. "America should be hysterical. The way this president has treated a Gold Star widow, someone who lost their lives in war fighting for this country, you're not hysterical about it? He should be hysterical about it as well."
"He should be hysterically fighting for fairness and to get answers for that woman, instead of pointing to shiny objects, calling a congresswoman whacky, trying to discredit her reputation, and calling the widow a liar, and you're saying that I'm hysterical?" he asked. "Man, come on."
Wilson has been criticized for laughing that she became a "rock star" because of her conflict with the White House last week.