Outgoing President Donald Trump has kept a relatively low profile since his supporters stormed the United States Capitol, fueled by his lies that widespread voter fraud orchestrated by Democrats delivered President-elect Joe Biden a false victory in the 2020 presidential race.
The siege on the Capitol left windows shattered, offices ransacked, security compromised, and at least five people dead. It was the most gruesome culmination of a months-long campaign carried out by Trump on social media to instill doubt in his supporters on the integrity of the U.S. election.
As a result of the siege, Trump has been indefinitely banned from Facebook and his favorite outlet, Twitter, for fear that he would continue to incite more violence.
Republicans are pointing to Trump's bans as the latest instance of "big tech" overreach. Soon, Trump campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley took to Fox News where he decried the ban on the President's social media.
Somewhere along the way, Gidley's defense went off the rails.
Watch below.
Hogan Gidley describes Trump as "the most masculine person, I think, to ever hold the White House." pic.twitter.com/nLn2umhV2L
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 11, 2021
Fox News host Bill Hemmer asked Gidley if Trump feels "emasculated" by the social media removal, to which Gidley responded:
"Look, I wouldn't say emasculated. I mean, the most masculine person ever, I think, to hold the White House is the President of the United States."
People were confused as to why Trump's masculinity—or lack thereof—was relevant to the conversation.
What a weird question and an even weirder answer. https://t.co/ivKfhv6kcp— Has Dwight Powell Been Traded? (@Has Dwight Powell Been Traded?) 1610430075.0
What are we to make of this madness? https://t.co/qRkE5Rosq7— Judd Apatow (@Judd Apatow) 1610423785.0
I definitely have no idea what "masculine" means at this point. https://t.co/TtXNEhPRx4— T.C. Aurelius (@T.C. Aurelius) 1610456537.0
But CNN anchor Don Lemon delivered one of the most biting critiques of all.
On CNN, @donlemon responds to @JHoganGidley's comment on Fox News that President Trump is the most masculine presid… https://t.co/0U2qOuAsGl— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@Yashar Ali 🐘) 1610425868.0
After telling Gidley to "shut up," Lemon said:
"He is the biggest snowflake of them all. The biggest one. 'I don't want to hear about your feelings. Give me facts, they're not feelings.' Why are you coddling his feelings all the time? Why are you coddling all these people's feelings—'We need to understand how they feel, give them time to accept the election. Really? Who's the snowflake now?"
Lemon pointed to Capitol rioter Jake Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, who was arrested shortly after the riots and complained that he couldn't eat in prison because he wasn't being served organic food.
Lemon continued:
"The President's legacy will be not the most masculine President, but the biggest loser we have ever had as President. Maybe that should've been the name of the show instead of The Apprentice: The Biggest Loser."
People shared Lemon's outrage.
Just when I feel like people aren't getting it @donlemon always comes in with the best takes and makes me feel sane… https://t.co/nx70VP3YGf— Nicky Louder (@Nicky Louder) 1610427702.0
Don is right on. 🙌🏼 https://t.co/poy8wAkG8k— Gary Probe (@Gary Probe) 1610427388.0
@donlemon needs a show where he can curse freely. I think we all need it. https://t.co/zXSS3REhBW— Harrison Jackson (@Harrison Jackson) 1610426137.0
@donlemon is all of us tonight. https://t.co/GXOU8dVSTh— Tom Skallas (@Tom Skallas) 1610426074.0
Preach Don 🙌🙌 https://t.co/d3vW56B8Kf— Deirdre O'Brien (@Deirdre O'Brien) 1610448843.0
The President has eight days in office, but he's expected to be impeached a second time by the House of Representatives for inciting an insurrection.