In a heated exchange on CNN’s New Day Tuesday morning, CNN political commentator Corey Lewandowski forcefully defended his former boss, Donald Trump, against charges of anti-semitism over a star used in a tweet published by Trump’s personal account.
Lewandowski, whose hiring despite a history of hostile relations with journalists earned CNN steady criticism last week, continued to push back against any suggestion the star resembled a Star of David—or was intended to hint at anti-semitic themes.
“But I can tell you this: Donald Trump has been a person going back 30 years that in his corporation he hired senior executives that are Jewish to be part of his organization,” Lewandowski told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota. “You look at his CFO, you look at his chief legal counsel. You look at all of those individuals.”
Heated debate between @chriscquinn and @CLewandowski_ over use of controversial star in Donald Trump tweet https://t.co/Kzle48QcWX
— New Day (@NewDay) July 5, 2016
Many turned to Twitter to criticize Lewandowski–and his new bosses at CNN. Chloe Angyal, front page editor at The Huffington Post, said “great hire, CNN. Money well spent.”
it’s gonna be so much fun when Trump tweets a swastika and CNN pays Corey Lewandowski to go on tv and explain Hinduism to us all
— Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) July 4, 2016
With the Corey Lewandowski hire, this prediction is looking better and better from last Sept. https://t.co/HENlXK6GhW
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) July 4, 2016
After the interview, the Trump campaign’s social media director, Dan Scavino, reacted:
For the MSM to suggest that I am antisemite is AWFUL. I proudly celebrate holidays w/ my wife’s amazing Jewish family for the past 16 years.
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) July 5, 2016