PoliticsEx-CNN Star Don Lemon Floats Presidential Bid: 'I Could Definitely Run the Country Better Than Donald Trump'
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon said he would consider a presidential run, admitting he'd be much better than Donald Trump.
April 1 2026, Published 12:14 p.m. ET
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon stated that while he currently has no immediate plans to run for office, he believes he could lead the United States better than President Donald Trump.
In an appearance on the "Pod Save America" podcast, Lemon explicitly told guest host Alex Wagner, "I think I could be president of the United States. I could definitely run this country better than Donald Trump.”
“Do I ever think about it? Yes. Could it happen? Yeah, it could happen if the opportunity presented itself, the right opportunity presented itself. Look, if I wanted to … I know people are going to think I’m crazy,” he continued.
Don Lemon teased running for president.
He mentioned that if he ever did decide to run, he would switch his current party affiliation from Independent to Democrat.
Lemon, 59, compared his potential path to that of former President Barack Obama, arguing that unconventional backgrounds do not preclude someone from reaching the presidency.
“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 asked.
Don Lemon does he doesn't have 'an aspiration to become president.'
“I don’t have an aspiration to become president, but I do think that I could run this country a lot better than Donald Trump.”
“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?” he added.
He clarified that he does not have current "aspirations" for the role, noting that a campaign would likely "ruin" his life.
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Don Lemon no longer works at CNN.
Lemon also told Fox News Digital that he would need to "consult with my creator" and see a sign from "the people" before officially entering the political arena.
The former anchor's comments come amid his ongoing legal challenges following a February arrest related to an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota, charges he has repeatedly dismissed as "baseless.”
Lemon maintains he was acting solely as an independent journalist chronicling the event and has pleaded not guilty.
Don Lemon is a vocal critic of Donald Trump.
Since his 2023 ouster from CNN, Lemon has used his YouTube platform, The Don Lemon Show, to remain a vocal critic of President Trump.
Lemon has delivered sharp personal attacks, recently calling the president a "vile, sorry, unmitigated waste of human flesh" in response to administration policies and Trump's handling of international conflicts
The Trump administration has taken an aggressive stance against the protest and Lemon, with Trump labeling him a "loser" and a “lightweight” for his actions.
