Stephen Colbert’s departure is used as an example of how the Trump White House press corps should respond to President Donald Trump. Don Lemon urges reporters to stand together when Trump targets colleagues with insults and demeaning remarks. He calls for reporters to keep asking the same question, give the floor to the person speaking, and continue pressing even if others move on. Lemon criticizes the focus on getting one’s own question in for network purposes. He frames reporters as the ones who should hold power by defending the First Amendment, freedom of the press, and respect, rather than allowing Trump’s allies to control the process.
"Now all of the late night shows are going dark, so that Stephen gets all the shine. That's how you stand up for each other. Excuse me, hold on. Press Corps, White House Press Corps! Are you listening to this? All of his competitors, all of his colleagues, Stephen Colbert, they're going dark because they want to give him the shine! They want give him support."
"So the next time, I know I'm going off here. The next time someone calls one of your coworkers a piggy, the next time he calls them a loser, the next he insults them, the next times he tells a Black woman that she knows dirt better than him. Say something! Ask the same question as the person before. Give that person perhaps the floor! And if they move on to someone else, then so be it. Then the next reporter should keep doing the same thing."
"Stop trying to get the, I gotta get my question in because my network wants me to get to the question, my network. You're gonna be there for a long time. You'll get your question in. What's more important is that you stand up for the First Amendment! You stand up for the freedom of the press! You stand for respect."
"Remember, Donald Trump and all of his goons, all of those people who are unqualified to be there, they all work for you. It's not the other way around. Do not let Karoline Leavitt. Call on the next person when you're not finishing your question."
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