The Don Lemon Show
The Don Lemon Show
June 29, 2026

HOT TOPICS | Hateful Racism EXPOSED! MAGA Wants A White America!

YouTube · dhoIa0tUUmg

Quick Read

Don Lemon and guests condemn recent public statements by Tom Emmer and Megan Kelly as overtly racist and bigoted, linking them to a broader regression in American society and the failed 'America 250' event.
Tom Emmer told Somali American citizens to 'go back where they came from' if they don't assimilate.
Megan Kelly screamed at Haitian immigrants to 'go home,' despite their substantial economic contributions.
The 'America 250' fair, marred by a Confederate flag and low attendance, symbolized the perceived failure of the MAGA movement.

Summary

Don Lemon, joined by Steve Schmidt and Godfrey, dissects recent controversial remarks by Republican Tom Emmer and media personality Megan Kelly, labeling them as explicit acts of racism and bigotry. Emmer's comments urged Somali American citizens to 'go back where they came from' if they don't assimilate, while Kelly's tirade targeted Haitian immigrants with similar 'go home' sentiments, despite their significant economic contributions. The discussion frames these incidents as part of a dangerous, emboldened wave of hate in Trump's America, further highlighted by the poorly attended and symbolically problematic 'America 250' fair, which featured a Confederate flag. The guests provide historical context, arguing that this public display of hate is a regression from decades of progress and a monetization of cruelty.
The episode highlights how prominent political and media figures are openly expressing racist and xenophobic sentiments, normalizing language previously confined to extremist groups. This shift, according to the hosts, emboldens others and risks eroding fundamental American values of diversity and inclusion, impacting the social fabric from political discourse down to everyday interactions. The poor attendance at the 'America 250' fair suggests a potential public disinterest or rejection of the divisive MAGA agenda, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the critique of escalating hate speech.

Takeaways

  • Tom Emmer, a high-ranking Republican, publicly told Somali American citizens to 'go back where they came from' if they do not assimilate, despite their birthright citizenship.
  • Megan Kelly, on her podcast, told Haitian immigrants to 'go home,' falsely claiming they 'dilute' American culture and economy, despite their $6 billion annual contribution and $1.5 billion in taxes.
  • The 'America 250' fair, intended to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday, was poorly attended, featured a broken ferris wheel, and displayed a Confederate flag, symbolizing a 'Trump touches, everything dies' effect.
  • Guests Steve Schmidt and Godfrey argue that this public hate speech, monetized and amplified, represents a severe regression in American society, akin to historical periods of intense bigotry.
  • The low turnout at the MAGA-affiliated 'America 250' event is interpreted as a positive sign that people are becoming disengaged from or tired of Trump's divisive rhetoric.

Insights

1Mainstream Bigotry and Assimilation Demands

Don Lemon highlights how Tom Emmer, the third most powerful Republican in Congress, publicly told Somali American citizens to 'go back where they came from' if they don't assimilate. Lemon emphasizes these are born citizens, not undocumented immigrants. Similarly, Megan Kelly, on her podcast, targeted Haitian immigrants, screaming at them to 'go back to Haiti,' claiming their presence 'dilutes' American culture. Lemon refutes Kelly's claims by citing Haitian immigrants' $6 billion annual economic contribution and $1.5 billion in taxes, noting their critical roles as nurses, teachers, and small business owners.

Tom Emmer's comments about Somali Americans and their assimilation; Megan Kelly's statements about Haitian immigrants diluting American culture and her call for them to 'go home.'

2The 'America 250' Fair: A Symbol of Failure and Division

The podcast criticizes the 'America 250' birthday fair, describing it as a disaster with a broken ferris wheel, empty booths, and a Confederate flag displayed in the North Carolina pavilion on federal land. Don Lemon frames this as evidence that 'everything Trump touches dies,' and guests suggest the low attendance indicates a public turning away from MAGA politics. The Confederate flag's presence, only removed due to backlash, is seen as a stark symbol of the event's divisive and problematic nature.

Description of the 'America 250' fair's failures, including a broken ferris wheel, empty booths, and the display of a Confederate flag.

3Historical Context of Immigration and Racism

Steve Schmidt and Godfrey provide historical context, noting that many immigrant groups, including Irish and Italians (like Megan Kelly's ancestors), faced discrimination and were not initially considered 'white' upon arrival. They argue that the current rhetoric against immigrants mirrors past xenophobia. Schmidt references the 'China wall' built by Chinese laborers and the 'Pope Stone' incident at the Washington Monument as examples of historical anti-immigrant sentiment. Godfrey points out that black Americans' struggles for civil rights paved the way for other immigrant groups, who then sometimes 'dog' black people.

Discussion of Irish and Italian immigrant experiences, the 'China wall' built by Chinese laborers, the 'Pope Stone' incident, and the historical context of black Americans' role in civil rights.

4The Monetization and Normalization of Hate

Steve Schmidt asserts that Megan Kelly 'means every word' of her hateful rhetoric, viewing it as a calculated move after her failed NBC career. He describes her comments as 'rancid, vile, bigoted, low down cruel,' and part of a 'monetization of cruelty' in Trump's America, where 'the meaner you are, the colder you are, the more hateful you are, the higher you fly.' Godfrey adds that figures like Kelly are 'mean girls' doing 'hacky' clickbait for a specific demographic, emboldened by Donald Trump.

Steve Schmidt's analysis of Megan Kelly's motivations and the 'monetization of cruelty'; Godfrey's characterization of Kelly as a 'mean girl' seeking clickbait.

Bottom Line

The current wave of overt racism and xenophobia, exemplified by figures like Megan Kelly and Tom Emmer, is not merely political rhetoric but a 'contagion' that has broken a 'seal' in American society, moving from the fringes to mainstream platforms.

So What?

This normalization of hate has profound societal implications, permeating down to everyday interactions and potentially influencing children to believe certain groups are 'less than,' requiring a generational effort to reverse.

Impact

There is a critical opportunity for individuals and organizations to actively and consistently condemn such speech, defend liberty and freedom for all, and reassert the foundational American principle that anyone swearing an oath to the Constitution is 'fully American,' regardless of origin.

The significant lack of public engagement and low attendance at MAGA-affiliated events like the 'America 250' fair, despite media attempts to portray success, suggests a potential fatigue or rejection of Trump's divisive politics among a broader segment of the population.

So What?

This indicates that while hateful rhetoric is amplified by certain media figures, it may not translate into widespread public support or enthusiasm for associated political movements, potentially limiting their long-term endurance.

Impact

Opponents of this divisive agenda can leverage this apparent public disengagement by focusing on unifying messages and highlighting the 'real America' – characterized by diversity, friendliness, and shared experiences outside of partisan politics – to build broader coalitions and counter the narrative of division.

Lessons

  • Actively condemn and speak out against racist and xenophobic rhetoric from public figures, recognizing its societal harm and the need for consistent opposition.
  • Understand the historical context of immigration and discrimination in America to counter false narratives about assimilation and who 'built this country.'
  • Support and promote narratives that celebrate America's diverse cultures and the contributions of all its citizens, reinforcing the idea that strength comes from inclusion, not homogeneity.

Notable Moments

Don Lemon's initial reaction to the 'America 250' fair, describing a broken ferris wheel, empty booths, and a Confederate flag.

This sets the tone for the episode, immediately framing the event as a symbol of failure and problematic ideology, reinforcing the 'everything Trump touches dies' narrative.

Steve Schmidt's vivid comparison of Megan Kelly's rage to historical images of white women spitting on black children during desegregation.

This powerful analogy directly links contemporary hate speech to historical acts of racial violence and bigotry, emphasizing the severity and historical continuity of the issues discussed.

Quotes

"

"Everything Trump touches dies, as we know. The party, the peace deal, the pool, all of it."

Don Lemon
"

"If they don't assimilate, then they should go the hell back to where they came from."

Tom Emmer
"

"Go home. Get out. We know our country is better than yours. That's because we filled it with our work ethic and our culture and our values. You being here only dilutes it for us, those who built it and live it."

Megan Kelly
"

"She is the worst of this country, and she is a reflection of its original sin. She is that white woman whose face is contorted in rage in 1957 spitting on a black child trying to get to the schoolhouse."

Steve Schmidt
"

"As soon as they were told they were at a certain status, that's when they turned around and dogged black people because black people in America from redlinining to segregation to Jim Crow have always been on the short end of the stick."

Godfrey
"

"It is the gospel of I'm going to give you someone to look down on."

Steve Schmidt

Q&A

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