On tomorrow’s Meet the Press, Georgia Congressman John Lewis will say that he doesn’t consider Donald Trump to be a “legitimate president.”

Chuck Todd: You have forged a relationship with many presidents. Do you plan on forging a relationship with Donald Trump? Rep. John Lewis: I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be very difficult. I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president. Todd: You do not consider him a legitimate president? Lewis: No. Todd: Why is that? Lewis: I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I don’t plan to attend the inauguration. It would be the first one that I miss since I’ve been in the Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong. Todd: That is going to send a big message to a lot of people in this country, that you don’t believe he’s a legitimate president. Lewis: I think there was a conspiracy on the part of the Russians and others to help him get elected. That’s not right. That’s not fair. That’s not the open, democratic process.

Lewis is invariably described as a “civil rights icon,” but the man is an utter fraud. He has been coasting on his 50-year-old reputation for decades. Andrew Breitbart exposed Lewis as a liar when he claimed, falsely, to have been subjected to racial epithets by a crowd outside the Capitol. Lewis disgracefully testified against Jeff Sessions’s nomination as Attorney General, again playing the fake race card. And, for what it’s worth, he didn’t consider George W. Bush a legitimate president, either.

There is no reason to treat John Lewis with kid gloves, and Donald Trump doesn’t do so. This morning he used his favorite medium to respond to Lewis’s slanders:

Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to…… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017

mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017

Trump could have been a lot harsher.

UPDATE: The Democrats are already fundraising, dishonestly, off this exchange. A little while ago they sent out an email headed: “BREAKING: Donald Trump INSULTS Rep. John Lewis.”

It continues:

We’re so disgusted. This morning, in response to Rep. John Lewis’ protest of his Inauguration, Donald Trump sent out a flurry of tweets insulting the civil rights hero. It’s beyond the pale, even for Trump. We’re appalled. After voicing his opinion that he would not attend Trump’s inauguration festivities, Donald Trump insulted him, saying John Lewis is “all talk and no action.” That’s a blatant lie — and even more disgusting right ahead of MLK Day. John Lewis is a civil rights hero and a person all Americans should aspire to be like.

Of course, Lewis didn’t just “voice his opinion that he would not attend Trump’s inauguration festivities.” He said that Trump is not a legitimate president, despite winning the election. But no one expects honesty from the Democrats.

UPDATE: To see how the Associated Press spins this dustup to advance its anti-Trump narrative, go here.