Nikki Haley trolls Don Lemon over firing, hawks beer koozies

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley piled on ex-CNN anchor and host Don Lemon shortly after he was fired Monday — and used the opportunity to rake in cash for her 2024 campaign.

“A great day for women everywhere,” the former South Carolina governor said on Twitter, referring to Lemon’s abrupt dismissal from the network weeks after the former “CNN This Morning” host said that the 51-year-old Haley was no longer “in her prime.”

“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon, then 56, said of the GOP contender’s advocacy of mental competency tests on politicians over the age of 75. 

“I think it’s the wrong road to go down,” Lemon added. “She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime.”

CNN told Lemon’s agent Monday that the 17-year cable news veteran had been let go.


Tweet from former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
2024 GOP contender Nikki Haley hawked beer koozies to celebrate CNN firing Don Lemon.
Twitter

Nikki Haley
Haley said Lemon’s dismissal was a “great day for women everywhere.”
AP

Soon-to-be-ex CNN anchor Don Lemon
Lemon lashed out at co-hosts during his tenure at CNN, according to reports.
CNN

“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned after 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly,” Lemon tweeted.

Haley hopped on her own Twitter account 30 minutes later to announce she would be giving away “Past My Prime?” beer koozies to donors who contributed $7 or more to her campaign.

“Now, let’s get men out of women’s sports. #StillInMyPrime,” she said, linking to a donations webpage with another free koozie that read: “Hold My Beer.”

Variety reported earlier this month that Lemon had for years exhibited “diva-like” behavior at CNN, including sending threatening text messages to former co-anchor Kyra Phillips, when she drew the assignment to cover the fallout from the US invasion of Iraq. Lemon has denied the claims.


Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Haley is currently polling in the low single-digits.
AFP via Getty Images

The Post also learned that Lemon screamed at his “CNN This Morning” co-host Kaitlin Collins off-camera during a broadcast in December.

Haley could probably use a drink herself, with the RealClearPolitics polling average showing her drawing just 3.9% support in GOP primary surveys more than two months after she launched her campaign.