CNN anchor Don Lemon fired back at former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) after Gingrich said Lemon was "hostile to America."

Gingrich on Tuesday tweeted that Lemon was "hostile to America" after he pressed singer Gladys Knight on her decision to sing the national anthem at Sunday's Super Bowl.

Lemon responded to Gingrich on Friday, writing that he was breaking his "rule of not responding to Twitter trolls" in doing so.

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"Ms. Knight, who I greatly admire & have interviewed before, was well aware of the anthem controversy & chose to speak with me about it," Lemon wrote.

"Not asking her about it would have been a dereliction of journalistic integrity," he continued. "We can respect someone, ask tough questions & hold them to account. It’s the American way. Republicans, lately, should try it."

1- Newt, I’m breaking my rule of not responding to Twitter trolls just for you. You’re welcome. Just so you know Ms. Knight, who I greatly admire & have interviewed before, was well aware of the anthem controversy & chose to speak with me about it. https://t.co/xWE9Vnqts7 — Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 8, 2019

2 Not asking her about it would have been a dereliction of journalistic integrity. We can respect someone, ask tough questions & hold them to account. It’s the American way. Republicans, lately, should try it. By the way, don’t play me, play lotto. Your odds are better. https://t.co/beU3kj6yMY — Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 8, 2019

Knight sparked criticism with her decision to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl amid controversy surrounding the event. Many artists chose to boycott the Super Bowl in response to the NFL's treatment of former player Colin Kaepernick, who sparked the movement of players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality.

Lemon questioned Knight last week about her decision to sing amid the boycott.

Lemon asked Knight if she was worried she could lose her career over the performance, but Knight responded that she wasn't.

"People are going to have their opinions about whatever, and all I can deal with right now is what my heart says," Knight said when asked about the controversy.