Don Lemon Warns 'The Cost of Truth Is Rising' for Journalists

The former CNN anchor spoke about the importance of a free press and the threats faced by the First Amendment after his recent arrest while covering an anti-ICE protest.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Don Lemon, the former CNN journalist who was arrested a little over a week ago after covering an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church, made a surprise appearance at the 2026 Human Rights Campaign's Greater New York dinner. Lemon reflected on how his arrest affected his view of Constitutional rights, warning that "the cost of truth is rising" for journalists. He criticized the Trump administration for its seemingly dismissive approach to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and pushed for a free press that continues to tell the truth about the U.S., highlighting instances where reporters and journalists were targeted, attacked and threatened.

Why it matters

Lemon's arrest and his subsequent remarks highlight the growing threats to press freedom and the First Amendment in the U.S. As the former CNN anchor noted, journalists are increasingly being targeted, attacked and threatened for doing their jobs and exposing inconvenient truths. This raises concerns about the health of American democracy and the ability of the press to hold those in power accountable.

The details

Lemon was arrested on January 29, 11 days after he livestreamed video coverage of a January 18 protest that began outside a church in St. Paul. He followed protesters as they went inside, alleging that a church official also worked at a local ICE office. He interviewed protesters, congregants and a pastor during the protest. He was charged with violating federal laws by allegedly crossing a line from activity protected by the First Amendment to impeding others' rights to practice their religious beliefs. He was released from custody after a hearing in Los Angeles on Friday, January 30.

  • Lemon was arrested on January 29, 2026.
  • The protest Lemon covered took place on January 18, 2026.

The players

Don Lemon

A former CNN journalist who was arrested for covering an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.

Trump administration

The current U.S. presidential administration, which Lemon criticized for its seemingly dismissive approach to the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

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What they’re saying

“This past week reminded me of something I thought I understood. The First Amendment is not just a legal guarantee. It is breath in the lungs of a democracy. And when that breath is threatened, you feel it before you can explain it. … Last week, I felt it. … I saw how quickly a voice can be targeted. How easily truth can be distorted.”

— Don Lemon (Human Rights Campaign's Greater New York dinner)

“We are watching an administration right now that treats the Constitution not as a covenant, but as an inconvenience that they don't have to abide by. It's authoritarianism. And we need to be careful because the very little that's left of our democracy can be gone in a second if it's not too late already.”

— Don Lemon (Human Rights Campaign's Greater New York dinner)

What’s next

Lemon's arrest and the broader threats to press freedom will likely continue to be a major news story, with ongoing coverage and analysis of the legal and political implications.

The takeaway

Lemon's remarks underscore the vital role of a free and independent press in a healthy democracy, and the need for vigilance in protecting the First Amendment rights of journalists who are increasingly being targeted for exposing inconvenient truths.