CNN’s Don Lemon slammed President Donald Trump in a nearly 10-minute monologue addressing the “nasty hateful swipe” he said was directed at him.

Lemon kicked off his show Monday saying that “as a journalist” he does not like to be the subject of the story, but felt compelled to “stand up for what is right” by discussing how he felt after Trump called him the “dumbest man on television.”

“I just want to start by saying that I wouldn’t normally address this. As a journalist I don’t really like being the story here but because how important it is for each of us to stand up for what is right and what is decent I’m going to tell you exactly how I feel starting right now,” Lemon began.

He was referring to the president’s tweet last week aimed at NBA superstar LeBron James who was interviewed by Lemon.

Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2018

“He is not taking any time off from Twitter and apparently from watching me on CNN, which he denies, by the way. I know this because he has tweeted a nasty, hateful swipe at me and Lebron James we’ve been discussing here,” Lemon continued.

Claiming he has “thick skin” and calling James “a brilliant black man” who is “taking the high road,” the CNN host took his logic to another level.

“Since this president, since he spews so many insults so often, the president has called a lot of people stupid, some of those people are white. But I would just like to note referring to African-Americans as dumb — remember this is America,” Lemon argued. “Referring to African-Americans as dumb is one of the oldest canards of America’s racist past and present that black people are of inferior intelligence.”

Continuing his rant and focus on himself, Lemon presented tweets by “everyone and anyone” in the country who reacted to Trump’s remark from Dan Rather, Barbra Streisand and CNN commentator Keith Boykin.

“Notice a pattern? This president constantly denigrates people of color and women too,” Lemon declared, citing Rep. Maxine Waters as Trump’s “new favorite target.”

“This president traffics in racism and is fueled by bullying,” Lemon continued. “President Trump is trying a divide and conquer strategy here and here’s how it goes. He divides by race and tries to conquer decency by smearing and besmirching the truth and the people who fight to uphold it.”

He then welcomed a panel that continued beating the drum of racism.

For someone who claimed he didn’t like “being the story,” Lemon seemed to fill plenty of airtime doing just that. His assertion that it was racist of the president to call an African American person “dumb” drew plenty of criticism on Twitter.

Actually, Don Lemon, you’re the real dummy. Day in and day out. https://t.co/juQfRqBYOu — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) August 5, 2018

The old race card AGAIN.. it is all they have.. the panic is kicking in. Get out the popcorn and enjoy the Trump show!#QAnon #MAGA #Trump2020 #PatriotsFight #TheGreatAwakening — Santa Barbara News ?? (@_Santa_Barbara) August 7, 2018

Didn’t Trump say he liked MJ? Last I checked, Michael Jordan is black. Hardly supports the idea Trump is a racist. And to be clear, MJ is THE greatest basketball player in history. — Brendan Deakin (@BrendanDeakin) August 7, 2018

Ah, the old democrat fallback, racism. They’re not even trying anymore. Pathetic. — Brian Rockwood (@brianrockwood) August 7, 2018

“Everyone I disagree with is a racist”

– @donlemon — ?? EAGLE ❌ SCOUT ?? (@fickets0) August 7, 2018

if a white person calls a black person dumb he is maligned and called a racist. @DonLemon_CNN . if a black person calls a white person dumb he is rewarded with a job at the New York Times. — Damian C (@Demetrois) August 7, 2018

The ultimate accusation of lib desperation. When all else fails, call someone a racist. At least try to come up with something original, @donlemon. No wonder CNN is last. — Corleone Solo (@CorleoneSolo) August 7, 2018

Don is a racist and condones it on air and on twitter. His silence is deafening when Liberals tweet racists things. Don the racist. Agreed. — schoove (@evooohs) August 7, 2018