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Former President Donald Trump recently criticized ex-CNN host Don Lemon following Lemon’s arrest related to a protest at a Minnesota church last month.
Lemon, 59, was taken into custody in Los Angeles and formally charged on Friday with conspiracy to infringe on congregants’ rights and obstruct religious freedom in a place of worship.
The charges stem from his participation in a demonstration that disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18. Lemon was released without the requirement of posting bond after his initial court appearance.
The protestors focused their demonstration on Pastor David Easterwood, who is reportedly also employed as an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lemon maintains that his presence at the protest was solely for reporting purposes. Georgia Fort, another independent journalist, also faced indictment for attending the event.
Late on Saturday aboard Air Force One, reporters asked Donald Trump about Lemon’s arrest. The president replied: ‘I don’t know anything about the Don Lemon thing, but he’s a sleazebag.’
‘He’s a washup. Probably from his standpoint, [this is] the best thing that could happen to him,’ Trump continued.
‘He got no viewers. He was a failure. He’s a failed host, and now he’s in the news. I didn’t know anything about it, no.’
President Donald Trump laid into ex-CNN host Don Lemon when questioned about his arrest by reporters on board Air Force One late on Saturday
Lemon worked at CNN from 2006 to 2023. Starting in 2014, he appeared on several primetime programs, including The Eleventh Hour and The Don Lemon Show
Lemon was indicted Friday on federal civil rights charges after attending a protest that interrupted a service at Cities Church in St Paul on January 18. He is pictured conducting an interview at the Church on that day
The protest was against a pastor who reportedly also worked as an ICE agent. Lemon insists that although he attended the protest, he was just there to report on it. Another independent journalist, Georgia Fort, was also indicted for attending
After being released without bond on Friday, Lemon told reporters: ‘I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now.’
‘There is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable,’ he continued. ‘I look forward to my day in court.’
On Sunday’s installment of CNN This Morning, the show aired the clip of Trump tearing into Lemon on Air Force One.
Afterwards, host Victor Blackwell defended Lemon and said: ‘Actually, he has a pretty big audience on YouTube and all the social media as well.’
Guest panelist Nicole Carr, who is a journalist and professor, refuted the president’s claim that he was unaware of Lemon’s arrest.
‘You know about it,’ Carr said. ‘The White House is posting memes and smart takes about “when life gives you lemons.” It’s like, cut the crap on that.’
On Friday, the day Lemon was indicted, the official White House X account posted a picture announcing ‘Don Lemon arrested for involvement in the St Paul church riots.’
The picture was captioned, ‘When life gives you lemons…’ along with a chain emoji, indicating prison shackles.
Lemon worked at CNN from 2006 to 2023. In 2014, the network began airing primetime shows hosted by him. He appeared on several programs, including The Eleventh Hour and The Don Lemon Show.
On Friday, the day Lemon was indicted, the official White House X account made this post
In April 2023, Lemon was fired from CNN three years before his contract would have expired in 2026.
The network had experienced difficulty booking guests willing to appear on-air with him, and polling showed that his popularity among viewers had declined, according to the New York Times.
The former CNN host moved on to independently producing the Don Lemon Show on YouTube, where his channel has more than one million subscribers.
The clip of Trump criticizing Lemon also made the rounds on X, where it has received mixed reactions.
‘Trump’s reaction is blunt as ever strong words following an already controversial arrest,’ wrote one user.
‘Trump just called Don Lemon a total sleaze bag and failed host—classic no-filter Trump roast! Short and savage,’ another said.
Reactions to the clip of Trump tearing into Lemon received mixed responses on social media. A few are pictured here and below
‘But he doesn’t know anything about the Don Lemon arrest? Posted yesterday was a meme from the White House on Don’s arrest,’ a third user began.
‘Donald’s lying or maybe just doesn’t know what’s going on in the big white house and within his own administration? It’s got to be one or the other,’ the tweet concluded.
‘You know who else is a “SLEAZE BAG?”’ a fourth user posted along with pictures of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as screenshots mentioning Trump’s alleged criminal behavior in the recently released batch of Epstein files.