CNN host Erin Burnett and analyst Joan Walsh have lambasted the US president for his comment about the First Lady making “little quick salads” for the White House reception for the Clemson Tigers during a catering emergency while the kitchen staff is furloughed.
“It’s incredibly sexist. He shouldn’t talk about the first lady in that way. We aren’t all here to make salads for men”, Walsh said.
Burnett, hosting a panel at CNN known for its feud with Donald Trump over their reporting on him, pointed out that “sometimes what people say when they’re being funny exposes exactly who they are and what they think”.
READ MORE: Twitter on Fire Over Trump’s Fast Food Feast for College Football Champs Clemson
“Not that there’s any question, but this is pretty clear”, she added, apparently hinting at past purportedly sexist scandals involving Trump, while another participant of the discussion, conservative commentator Scott Jennings, defended the president, saying that his vis-à-vis “might be over-reading this one”.
This discussion prompted heated online debate. Some even detected sexism in the comments.
Love @joanwalsh. Trump is ridiculously sexist. #salads #appalling
— Hudsonette (@hudsonette) 15 января 2019 г.
And yes, Dems re wall shutdown are “right on the policy and politics.” #CNN
I hadn't seen the clip of Trump saying the First and Second Lady should have made salads for the Clemson players.
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) 15 января 2019 г.
Wow.@ErinBurnett and @joanwalsh just skewered him and the #GOP flunky sitting there saying he didn't think it was #sexist. @CNN
The joke Trump made about Melania and Karen Pence making salads for the Clemson players was so sexist. Caveman.
— Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) 15 января 2019 г.
There were also those who encouraged fellow users to confront Jennings, calling the whole situation over-reading.
Wow. Trump just told @ClemsonFB he could have had the first lady make salads for the men, and @ScottJenningsKY said on @CNN it wasn’t sexist because men eat salads. He didn’t even realize it wasn’t the food choice that was the sexist part of that remark. That’s the problem here.
— Mueller, She Wrote Podcast (@MuellerSheWrote) 15 января 2019 г.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings says that Trump wasn't being sexist for suggesting that Melania & Mother could make salads.
— Pitt Griffin (@pittgriffin) 15 января 2019 г.
If you want to thank @ScottJenningsKY for explaining that, please let him know.
Others questioned the merit of the accusation.
@CNN and @ErinBurnett Usually I agree with you on Trump sexist remarks but today’s comments on the salads vs hamburgers was just a bit of tongue in cheek about the fact that most FB players like meat. Nothing more. Shouldn’t have even been broadcast. Totally unnecessary.
— John McMunn (@bluegoldboy69) 15 января 2019 г.
Trump paid for the party out of his own pocket, as the White House catering staff, who usually caters such events with thought-out menus and delicacies, has been furloughed without pay, like many federal workers across the country, due to the ongoing partial governmental shutdown. A known fan of fast food, the US president treated the guests – college football champions the Clemson Tigers — to burgers, fries and pizza from McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Domino's.