Karine sour on Lemon at CNN
He's just a constant f-ing distraction. — CNN insider
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre requested not to be interviewed by Don Lemon as a condition of appearing on “CNN This Morning” this week, The Post has learned.
Jean-Pierre, a guest on the morning show on Thursday, made it clear to CNN that she did not want to go head-to-head with the bombastic anchor, a source said.
“The White House asked for her not to be interviewed by Don,” the source added.
A second source close to CNN said JeanPierre “refused” to go on if Lemon was asking the questions.
Instead, the press secretary was interviewed on Thursday’s show by co-host Poppy Harlow.
An insider said Harlow had been earmarked to do the interview because the show’s staff has to “produce around” Lemon, who has been in the spotlight for a series of on-air missteps.
“He’s just a constant f--king distraction,” the person said.
Insiders speculated that it was likely due to the anchor’s recent on-air gaffes or possibly tense on-air exchanges in the past, in which Lemon grilled Jean-Pierre over President Biden’s mental fitness.
“We’re not going to detail our conversations with any media outlets, but as always the anchor is the network’s call and not ours,” a rep for Jean-Pierre told The Post.
The White House later denied JeanPierre didn’t want to deal with Lemon. “Karine never said this,” the rep said after the initial statement.
A CNN spokesman declined to elaborate, merely saying: “The decision to have Poppy conduct the interview was made independently by CNN.”
In February, Lemon went on an embarrassing on-air, sexist diatribe about 51-yearold Nikki Haley being “not in her prime” that had enraged staffers and caused Harlow to walk off the set.
When asked at a press briefing to comment on Lemon’s remarks, Jean-Pierre took her opportunity to weigh in.
“That is something clearly that needs to be addressed,” she said, referring to CNN’s obligation to deal with Lemon’s remarks.