Former NFL player Dante Stallworth said on CNN Friday that President Trump was authoritarian and has “surrounded himself” with white supremacists.

“The president should not be calling for anyone’s job because they’re criticizing him. That is key characteristic of what an authoritarianism is. And the president of the United States, of an open and free society should not be discussing those things,” Stallworth said on “The Lead with Jake Tapper.”

Tapper than asked what the former NFL player thought about the idea that Trump was a white supremacist.

“Well, I know one thing is that he has surrounded himself with white supremacists. I don’t think that can be denied,” Stallworth replied.

This segment came after controversy erupted when ESPN’s Jemele Hill tweeted that Trump, “is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.”

In response, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the remarks “outrageous” Friday, after previously calling them a “fireable offense” on Wednesday.

Follow Justin on Twitter