President Donald Trump sharply condemned former CNN host Don Lemon over his role in an anti–Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest that disrupted a Sunday church service in Minnesota.
The president called the incident “horrible” and praised the pastor who remained calm as Lemon and his leftist mob stormed the sanctuary.
Speaking during remarks at the White House, President Trump criticized Lemon’s conduct inside the church and framed the episode as an attack on law-abiding Americans and religious worship.
“They’re patriots, and they have to be abused by guys like Don Lemon, who’s a, you know… loser, lightweight,” Trump said.
“I saw him the way he walked in that church. It was terrible.
“I have such respect for that pastor.
“He was so calm. He was so nice.
“He was just accosted,” Trump noted.
“What they did in that church was horrible yesterday.”
WATCH:
The comments followed a disruptive “protest” at Cities Church, a Southern Baptist Convention–affiliated congregation in St. Paul, where a group of anti-ICE activists interrupted a worship service.
Video from the scene shows a mob of aggressive “protesters” entering the sanctuary mid-service while Lemon livestreamed the confrontation to his social media audience.
Lemon, who now hosts an independent online program after being fired from CNN, narrated the incident in real time and repeatedly praised the activists.
He compared their actions to civil-rights-era protests and falsely claimed that disrupting a worship service was protected by the First Amendment, suggesting there should be no limits on conduct inside a church.
Lemon, who was misrepresenting himself as a “journalist,” appeared to be urging and possibly leading the crowd while promoting false claims about the church, one of the pastors, and the so-called “rights” of the mob as they disrupted the service.
Protesters shouted slogans, including “hands up, don’t shoot,” a phrase associated with the widely debunked narrative surrounding the 2014 Michael Brown shooting.
One activist, identified online as “dawokefarmer,” was heard threatening congregants and labeling them “fake Christians” and “comfortable white people.”
WATCH:
NEW: Don Lemon tries lecturing a pastor on the First Amendment after a mob of far leftists stormed a church in Minneapolis.
Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”
Lemon: “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First… pic.twitter.com/joHdCvaXe6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2026
The agitators claimed they were targeting pastor David Easterwood, alleging he serves as Acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in St. Paul.
They described the action as a “clandestine” effort to confront him.
However, there is no evidence supporting claims that Easterwood holds an ICE leadership role.
Nevertheless, Lemon appeared to be fueling the false claims about Easterwood.
The false allegation spread rapidly on social media amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.
Trump emphasized the pastor’s response, repeatedly praising his restraint and refusal to escalate the situation.
“That pastor showed incredible restraint,” Trump said.
Five months ago, a trans shooter killed 2 people at a Minneapolis church and wounded 30 more.
That makes what Don Lemon and his leftist thugs did at another Minneapolis church even more disgusting. pic.twitter.com/8anm7I5uL9
— Christian Tweets (@JesusSavesUs777) January 19, 2026
Lemon later defended his actions, rejecting criticism and portraying himself as a “journalist” caught in a political controversy.
“It’s notable that I’ve been cast as the face of a protest I was covering as a journalist — especially since I wasn’t the only reporter there,” Lemon said in a statement.
“That framing is telling.”
He also claimed he had received “violent threats” and “homophobic and racist slurs” online, which he blamed on “MAGA supporters” and conservative media.
“If this much time and energy is going to be spent manufacturing outrage, it would be far better used investigating the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good—the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place,” Lemon added.
“I stand by my reporting.”
The incident comes amid escalating clashes between anti-ICE activists and federal authorities in Minnesota, with the Trump administration warning that interference with law enforcement operations and intimidation of religious institutions will not be tolerated.
READ MORE – Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Denies Don Lemon’s Anti-ICE Mob Violated FACE Act
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