CNN host perfectly shuts down guest who accuses him of ‘fake news’

CCN host Don Lemon has his own brush with "fake news" mania - and comes out swinging.

Lemon decided to end a discussion on CNN Tonight rather abruptly when a commentator repeatedly referred to the story as "fake news".

The show was discussing the financial burden of Donald Trump's constant visits to Mar-A-Lago in Florida, as well as the high security costs for Melania Trump in New York.

To repeat: discussion of a legitimate truth - that security and travel costs for the First Family are exorbitant.

Enter Paris Dennard, political analyst and commentator, who previously served in the Bush administration.

I think this is fake news. This is not a news story.

​

Lemon came straight back in with: "Do you actually know what the definition of fake news is?"

It appeared Dennard did not, because he replied: "What we're doing right now."

So Lemmon proceeded to drop some knowledge on him:

Fake news is when you put out a story to intentionally deceive someone and you know that it is wrong.

This story that we’re doing right now is not to intentionally deceive anyone. We are simply talking about the cost to keep a president safe.

Please stop it with that stupid talking point, that it is a fake news story.

If you don’t want to participate in the news stories on this network, then don’t come on and participate.

But don’t call them fake because you don’t agree with them. Go on.

Watch the full video here:

CNN offered this comment to Josh Feldman for Mediaite:

Don said prior to getting to Paris Denard: 'This is short and I want to get everyone in.'

He was running up against time to end the shower and the conversation went long. That is the reason the show ended as it did. 

More: Fake news isn't a new concept - Hitler called it 'lügenpresse'

More: Facebook has a fake news problem. These students solved it in 36 hours