U.S. President Donald Trump triggered a fresh political storm after sharing a highly misleading social media post attacking journalist Don Lemon. The repost, shared on Trump’s platform Truth Social, accused Lemon of criminal behavior and suggested he should face decades in prison, despite no charges being filed and key claims in the post being incorrect.
The post quickly spread across social media, drawing attention for its aggressive tone and factual mistakes. Even the original author later admitted the information was wrong, yet the message remained amplified. The incident added fuel to an already tense political environment, where journalists, protests, and immigration issues are increasingly colliding.
Trump Amplifies False Claims Against Don Lemon
The message reposted by Trump originally appeared on X and claimed that a group of elderly women protesting at an abortion clinic had been sentenced to 40 years in prison under the federal FACE Act. The post then argued that Don Lemon deserved the same punishment for livestreaming a protest inside a church in Minneapolis.
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Soon after the repost gained traction, the original poster admitted the claim was incorrect. The sentence was not 40 years but 40 months, and the mistake was described as a typo. Despite this correction, Trump’s repost remained visible, continuing to circulate false information.
The claim appeared to loosely reference anti-abortion activist Lauren Handy, who was sentenced in 2024 for blocking access to abortion clinics. Handy, who is in her early thirties, was later found to be in possession of fetal remains. Trump had previously pardoned several activists convicted under the same law, making the reposted demand for harsh punishment against Lemon appear contradictory.
The Minneapolis Church Protest and Lemon’s Role
The backlash against Lemon began after he livestreamed an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in Minneapolis. Protesters entered the church during a service, saying their action was meant to call attention to the role of a pastor who also works with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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Lemon later explained that he was present only as a journalist. He said he was following protesters to report on events and did not organize or lead the protest. According to Lemon, he did not know the protest would take place inside a church until it happened. Once the disruption began, he documented what was unfolding and spoke with people involved, including church members and protesters.
Despite this explanation, He supporters accused Lemon of being an agitator. The criticism intensified when Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, warned Lemon publicly that he was “on notice.” Dhillon later spoke with far-right influencer Benny Johnson, suggesting the Ku Klux Klan Act could potentially be used in such cases.
The Ku Klux Klan Act, officially known as the Enforcement Act of 1871, was designed to protect civil rights and prevent intimidation, particularly after the Civil War. No charges have been filed against Lemon, and no formal legal action has been announced.
Protests, Public Reaction, and Official Responses
The protest Lemon covered was part of a broader wave of demonstrations in Minneapolis following the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was killed earlier this month by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. The incident sparked ongoing protests and renewed debate over immigration enforcement practices.
In a video response, Lemon rejected claims that he led or coordinated the protest. He stated that he had no connection to the organizing group and was simply documenting events as they occurred. He described the accusations from pro-Trump figures as exaggerated and disconnected from reality.
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protests
During the livestream, Lemon reminded viewers that the First Amendment protects the right to protest, even when demonstrations make people uncomfortable. He also responded to criticism from the church’s pastor, who called the protest “shameful,” by explaining that protests have long been a part of democratic expression.
News outlet The Daily Beast reported on the controversy and contacted both the Department of Justice and the White House for comment. At the time of reporting, no official responses had been issued.
