Ex-CNN host Don Lemon eyes potential White House run months after indictment for storming Minnesota church

Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon, who was indicted earlier this year on federal charges stemming from his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church, says he is leaning toward a potential run for the White House. 

Lemon, who spent 17 years at CNN before launching the Lemon Media Network in 2024, discussed the possibility in an Oct. 3 interview on the gay- and lesbian-themed podcast “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton,” where Lemon was asked specifically about rumors of a presidential bid. 

Lemon replied: “Look, I never say never. Look, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now doing what I’m doing. This is not easy to do every day, but I am very aware of the importance of what I’m doing, what it means to the culture and society. … When I’m out there, they’re not only saying thank you for what I’m doing, they say, ‘Would you ever consider running for office?’ And I say, ‘Well, you know, I thought about it.’ ‘Would you ever run for president?’ And I said, ‘Oh, well, definitely. I think I could be a better president than Donald Trump.’ So that’s where that came from.”

When pressed on how seriously he’s considering such a move, Lemon added: “If the people want me, I’ll do it. But it is a daunting undertaking to run for president in this country because you’d have to be devoted to it full-time. And I would like to devote much of my time to journalism. But if that’s the best way for me to help the American people, then sure, I’ll do it.”

Asked what percentage chance he thinks he will run, Lemon answered, “65, 70” percent. 

On whether America is ready for an openly homosexual president, Lemon said that while he thinks that "America is ready for a gay president or a gay black president," he also is concerned about "homophobia" and "racism in this country," which he said he encounters "every single day."

Lemon was arrested by federal agents in January for his reporting on a protest that disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul. Officials charged him with conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating, and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom.

In exchanges that were captured live on social media, Lemon cornered Cities Church Pastor Jonathan Parnell, who called the storming of the church “unacceptable” and “shameful.” In response, Lemon said, “Listen, there's a constitution, the First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest.”

Lemon, who has pleaded not guilty, told Macnaughton he learned of the indictment while covering the Grammys. His lawyers have asked a judge to dismiss the charges, which they view as a “vindictive” prosecution, The Hill reported. Reflecting on the episode, Lemon said he was “very calm” as protesters stormed into the Sunday morning church service.

“In situations like that, I’m usually very calm. In moments of crisis or moments of chaos, I’m usually very calm,” he said. “And I think one thing is, that I’ve been around long enough and I know that this, too, shall pass. And I also know that things that you go through are usually things that you come out on the other side better than what you were before.”

Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 over comments he made regarding GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, continues to host “The Don Lemon Show” as his case moves through the legal process.