CNN Guest Reacts to Backlash by Mocking a Trump Supporter’s Education

A political commentator who participated in a controversial CNN panel doubled down on his mockery of President Donald Trump’s supporters.

Joined by “CNN Tonight” anchor Don Lemon and The New York Times op-ed contributor Wajahat Ali, Wilson erupted in laughter while deriding Trump supporters as illiterate rednecks who are ignorant of the world.

The backlash came two days later when footage of the CNN panel discussion was disseminated widely on social media, provoking outrage among the right.

Wilson was apparently deluged with critical messages from Trump supporters on Twitter.

MORE: CNN Host Laughs Hysterically at ‘Ignorant’ Trump Supporters — Then Gets a Brutal Reality Check

The “Never Trump” former GOP consultant and author was far from apologetic and continued to jab conservatives by screenshotting the messages he received and adding his own scornful remarks.

Wilson responded in a series of tweets on Tuesday that only served to inflame the perception held by many on the right that he views them with contempt for their political beliefs.

He ridiculed a Trump supporter claiming to be “highly educated” and have “many degrees.”

MANY degrees. pic.twitter.com/GVJ14R4pyX

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 28, 2020

Wilson also appeared to scoff at the notion that a supporter of the president could be a physician at Duke University.

Wait…@DukeU? pic.twitter.com/vnvmGr8FhR

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 28, 2020

“I need to hop off Twitter for a bit to weep quietly at the horrible social media bullying I’m experiencing right now. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LOL. Nah. I just need to work on an ad for a while and finish an article,” Wilson tweeted later in the day.

CNN mocks Trump supporters

Over the weekend, Lemon invited Wilson and Ali to discuss a recent spat between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and an NPR reporter whom he suggested could not find Ukraine on a map.

“Obviously it’s false,” Wilson said of Pompeo’s claim. “He also knows deep in his heart that Donald Trump couldn’t find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter ‘U’ and a picture of an actual physical crane next to it. He knows that this is an administration defined by ignorance of the world.”

Wilson went on to caricature Trump’s “base” as gullible aging rednecks and then parodied them in a southern-accented impression.

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“That’s partly him playing to their base and playing to their audience,” Wilson said, as Lemon doubled over in laughter. “You know, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump, that wants to think that Donald Trump’s the smart one and y’all elitists are dumb.”

“I needed that”

“You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling,” Ali chimed in, trying to affect a similar accent.

“Your math, your reading,” Wilson added, prompting Lemon to take out a tissue to wipe away tears of joy.

“Yeah, your reading, your geography, knowing other countries, sipping your latte,” Ali repeated.

“All those lines on the map!” Wilson said, rocking back and forth in hysterics.

“Only them elitists know where Ukraine is,” Ali continued.

“Sorry, I apologize,” Ali said, smiling. “It was Rick’s fault. I blame Rick.”

“Blame Rick, why not?” Wilson said.

Lemon, gasping for air, finally tried to regain control of the panel.

“That was good. Sorry. Rick, that was a good one. I needed that,” he said. “So, OK, listen, let’s get back to business here.”

The segment apparently went largely unnoticed by CNN’s audience. But on Monday, clips began making the rounds on social media, where they have been viewed millions of times.

“We’ll see who has the last laugh”

Conservatives slammed the exchange as an example of smug elitism at its worst.

The Daily Wire’s Jessica Fletcher called it a “MUST WATCH clip.”

“[Don Lemon] and his guests trash conservatives as illiterate hillbillies who can’t figure out a map,” she said. “Never forget, THIS is what the liberal ‘elites’ think of you.”

Trump himself tweeted a version of the video late Monday night, saying, “Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!).”

Some commenters suggested the condescending attitudes displayed by the panelists were why Trump was elected in 2016. Others said the CNN video had bolstered Trump’s chances of reelection.

“In 2016, we were called “deplorables,” said Students for Trump. “In 2020, we’re considered “hillbilly illiterates.”

“We’ll see who has the last laugh come election night this November,” the account warned.

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