CNN anchor slams ‘disingenuous’ Trump spokeswoman
CNN host Don Lemon on Tuesday called Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s spokeswoman “disingenuous” in response to her defense of the businessman’s comments on rival Ted Cruz’s wife.
Katrina Pierson told CNN’s “New Day” that Trump was not “attacking” Heidi Cruz when he shared an unflattering image comparing Cruz to his wife, Melania, a former model.
{mosads}”I have yet to hear the attack on Heidi Cruz,” Pierson said when pressed about the image. “No, that is not an attack,” she repeated multiple times. “No one has maligned Heidi Cruz; no one has attacked Heidi Cruz.”
She suggested CNN had failed for “months” to cover barbs aimed at Melania Trump “by pro-Ted Cruz people.”
“I think you’re being very disingenuous about this,” Lemon responded, defending the network’s coverage.
“You’re being very disingenuous by saying that we’re not covering it or that we should be covering it in the context that you want us to cover it,” he added.
Trump’s campaign has tried to justify the image he shared as a form of “counterpunching” after an anti-Trump super-PAC used an image of Melania posing nude from a 2000 magazine photo shoot in an ad earlier in March.
Cruz has denied any connection to the group or the ad, while Trump has accused him of being aware of the ad and “lying.” Trump has not produced any evidence linking the Texas senator to the super-PAC, Make America Awesome.
Trump threatened to “spill the beans” on Heidi, which Pierson fulfilled with a series of attack lines shared last Friday that Cruz’s campaign dismissed as a low blow.
“I think it’s a very good spin that you put on it, but not necessarily the truth,” Lemon told Pierson to end the interview Tuesday.
“It’s the facts,” the aide shot back as the segment ended.
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