In response to Donald Trump tweeting that CNN anchor Don Lemon is the “dumbest man on television,” the cable news network released a statement slamming the president for “engaging in the very same behavior” as “bullies [who] torment kids.”

Trump was triggered to lash-out at the CNN Tonight host due to an article from the New York Times in which Maggie Haberman reported the president drinks a dozen Diet Cokes a day while watching hours of TV.

“Another false story, this time in the Failing @nytimes, that I watch 4-8 hours of television a day – Wrong! Also, I seldom, if ever, watch CNN or MSNBC, both of which I consider Fake News. I never watch Don Lemon, who I once called the ‘dumbest man on television!’ Bad Reporting,'” tweeted Trump.

Another false story, this time in the Failing @nytimes, that I watch 4-8 hours of television a day – Wrong! Also, I seldom, if ever, watch CNN or MSNBC, both of which I consider Fake News. I never watch Don Lemon, who I once called the “dumbest man on television!” Bad Reporting. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2017

CNN responded to the slam against their reporter with the following statement: “In a world where bullies torment kids on social media to devastating effect on a regular basis with insults and name-calling, it is sad to see our president engaging in the very same behavior himself. Leaders should lead by example.”

The network’s response to Trump comes just after a video of a bullied Tennessee boy went viral, leading many of the internet’s biggest celebrities — including everyone from Demi Lovato to Sean Hannity — to offer support to the child and speak-out against bullying in general.

A search of Trump’s tweets does not bring up any other posts in which the president referred to Lemon as “the dumbest man on television!” However, it appears that the CNN host shares the Trump-given title as “dumbest” person on TV with quite a few people.

The president has referred to Lawrence O’Donnell (twice), Charles Lane, David Brooks (twice), Bill Maher, George Will, Chris Stirewalt, Ana Navarro, S.E. Cupp, Rich Lowry, and Chuck Todd as the “dumbest” or “one of the dumbest” people in television reporting and punditry.

As for Lemon, Trump has previously complimented him for being “very professional” and — more recently — insulted him as “dumb as a rock.”

[image via screengrab]

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