CNN’s Don Lemon Praises Justin Trudeau's ‘Brownface’ Apology, Then Bashes Trump
CNN anchor uses opportunity to slam President during segment
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Anti-Trump CNN anchor Don Lemon praised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following his apology over the surfacing of the brownface photo.
But Lemon didn't let his praise it get in the way of bashing Presdient Donald Trump, noting that the US does not have a president that apologizes.
Trudeau apologized after the photo emerged in a Time magazine report which showed him wearing brownface makeup to an “Arabian Nights” party at the private school where he was teaching.
"I shouldn't have done that. I should have known better, but I didn't, and I'm really sorry," Trudeau told reporters.
"I take responsibility for my decision to do that.."
"It was something that I didn't think was racist at the time, but now I recognize that it was something racist to do and I'm deeply sorry."
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Lemon expressed delightful shock that a "leader" would apologize for something like that.
"Wow, a leader apologizing. It seems odd, doesn't it?" Lemon reacted.
"Because we have one who doesn't."
The CNN panel also defended Trudeau, with commentators emphasizing that "context matters" - insisting that Trudeau's photo was mostly different from the blackface photo of Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in 1986.
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Lemon repeated his praise for Trudeau towards the end of the segment.
"I do have to say this before we go: think about it however you want to think about it. When someone apologizes- wow!" Lemon said to the panel.
"We don't often see that here, especially in a world leader who is saying 'I should've known better and I'm sorry.' You can feel about it however you want, but that, to me, that does mean a lot."
The emergence of the photo comes just one week after Trudeau launched his campaign and could undermine his chances for re-election with less than five weeks to go before Canada's election.
According to Fox News, Vancouver businessman Michael Adamson gave the photo to Time.
He was a member of the West Point Grey Academy community, but he did not attend the party of faculty, staff, and students’ parents.
He came across the photograph in July and felt it should be made public.
