don lemon is openly entertaining the idea of running for president after telling the “Pod Save America” podcast on Sunday that he believes he could lead the United States. The former anchor said the door is not closed if the “right opportunity” presents itself, even while stressing a campaign is not on his immediate horizon. The comments land as he is also facing legal trouble tied to an alleged protest disruption at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Don Lemon says he “could be president” if the opportunity is right
Speaking on “Pod Save America, ” Don Lemon said, “I think I could be president of the United States, ” describing the idea as something he does think about. He framed it as a possibility rather than a plan, saying it “could happen” if the “right opportunity presented itself, ” and acknowledging he expects skepticism: “I know people are going to think I’m crazy. ”
He went further, arguing he would outperform the current president, stating, “I could definitely run this country better than Donald Trump, ” while not laying out specific policies or a detailed agenda during the exchange. He reiterated that he does not have an “aspiration to become president, ” but maintained his belief that he could do the job “a lot better than Donald Trump. ”
Immediate reactions: his own words set the tone, with a pointed comparison
The sharpest reaction in the moment came from Lemon himself, who leaned on historical comparison to defend the plausibility of an unconventional political rise. He invoked former President Barack Obama’s ascent, saying: “Did anybody think Barack Obama, as he says, this guy with a funny name is from a mixed background, did anybody ever think that he would become president, that he had that aspiration?”
Lemon also challenged the premise that he should avoid considering public office at all: “Look, why can’t I think about running for office? Why can’t I think about being President of the United States when I look at what we have?”
Expanding details: career shift after and his current platform
Lemon’s remarks come after his tenure at ended in 2023 following 17 years at the network. He has since moved to YouTube, where he hosts “The Don Lemon Show. ”
While his comments were delivered in the context of a conversation on a political podcast, the message was unmistakable: he believes he has the capability to be president, even if he is not actively launching a campaign now.
Legal backdrop: not-guilty plea tied to church disruption allegations
The presidential talk also arrives after Lemon pleaded not guilty in February to charges connected to his alleged role in storming a Minneapolis-area church with anti-ICE protesters. He is accused of depriving the constitutional rights of parishioners at Cities Church in St. Paul, after he allegedly joined dozens of protesters who interrupted a Jan. 18 service upon hearing the pastor worked for the immigration agency.
Since his arrest, Lemon has criticized the Trump administration and said he intends to fight the case, calling the allegations “baseless charges. ”
What’s next
For now, the only firm line from Lemon is that he has no immediate plan to seek the Oval Office—yet he is keeping the possibility alive if conditions change. Any next step would likely be signaled through future public statements or appearances connected to the same theme he raised Sunday: don lemon insisting he could be president, even as he faces unresolved legal proceedings tied to the St. Paul church incident.
