CNN anchor Don Lemon said he was "not part of the Resistance" Thursday in response to a conservative guest who charged him with constantly bagging President Donald Trump as a racist.
Guest and Trump supporter Steve Cortes ripped Lemon on his nightly program for his rhetoric about rapper Kanye West earlier in the day, when Lemon told CNN host Wolf Blitzer the unusual West-Trump meeting in the Oval Office was a "minstrel show."
Cortes called the remark "condescending," to which Lemon retorted he was telling the truth and that African Americans around the country would agree.
"These are the kind of tactics that you and the Resistance, you and your anti-Trump folks like to employ ... You and your friends and your allies in the Resistance, these are the kind of tactics—" Cortes started.
"I'm not in the Resistance," Lemon said, interrupting. "Don't, please, Steve—I'm not part of the Resistance. And just because the truth is not on your side—"
Cortes said Lemon called Trump a racist every night, but Lemon said he hadn't done it that particular night.
"Don't make up things," Lemon said.
"Just about every night, how about that," Cortes said.
Lemon said he did it "a lot" but only when it was "warranted."
Lemon, who mused in 2013 the Republican Party was doomed and once said Trump is trying to ignite a civil war, hosts the 10 and 11 p.m. ET hours on CNN every weeknight. He follows Chris Cuomo, the brother of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D.), who hosts the 9 p.m. hour.