Former CNN host Don Lemon released the interview with Elon Musk that he said prompted the billionaire to scrap his deal with Musk's X.

In the more than hourlong conversation, Lemon and Musk sparred on anti-Semitism, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and ketamine prescriptions. At one point, Lemon pressed a bewildered Musk to explain why the X owner believes CNN "is generally considered left."

"Why do you say that?" Lemon asked. 

"Why do I say CNN is generally considered left?" Musk responded. "Uh, I think if you look at any sort of media survey of what is on the left or right, I think they would say … CNN is on the left. Am I missing something here?"

Musk defended his decision to pull the plug on Lemon's show, saying Lemon "lacked authenticity."

"His approach was basically just 'CNN, but on social media,' which doesn't work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying," Musk said. "And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so [it] lacked authenticity."