- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Ferguson Today
By the People, for the People
Former CNN Host Claims Trump Targeted Him for Arrest
Don Lemon alleges political persecution during appearance on 'The View', but provides no evidence.
Apr. 4, 2026 at 4:06am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The legal troubles of a prominent journalist raise concerns about press freedom and the potential for political targeting.Ferguson TodayDuring an appearance on ABC's 'The View', former CNN host Don Lemon claimed that he believes President Donald Trump specifically targeted him for arrest. Lemon provided no details about the charges against him or the circumstances of his arrest, instead framing it as political retaliation due to Trump's past criticism of him on social media.
Why it matters
Lemon's claims, if true, would raise serious concerns about press freedom and the potential for the government to target journalists. However, without any specifics about the actual charges or arrest, it's difficult to assess the validity of his allegations.
The details
Lemon appeared on 'The View' and told co-host Sunny Hostin that he believes he was 'targeted' by the Trump administration, citing the former president's past criticism of him on Twitter. Lemon did not provide any details about the charges he is facing or the circumstances of his arrest, instead broadly invoking the First Amendment and warning that journalists are 'afraid they're going to be arrested for doing their job'.
- Lemon appeared on 'The View' on Thursday, April 4, 2026.
The players
Don Lemon
A former CNN host who now hosts a podcast and made the claims of political targeting during his appearance on 'The View'.
Sunny Hostin
A co-host of 'The View' who interviewed Lemon about his arrest and allegations.
Donald Trump
The former president whom Lemon alleges personally targeted him for arrest, citing past criticism on social media.
What they’re saying
“Yes, I do.”
— Don Lemon, Former CNN Host
“Look at what happened to me. Journalists are now afraid that they're going to be arrested for doing their job. So, yeah, I think that I was targeted, but I think this is bigger than me because the moment the government starts telling you where you can go to report who you can report on, what you have to say like Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. You have to show us what you're putting out there before you do it. Then the whole thing is over. There is a reason that the First Amendment is first. It is a bedrock of our constitution.”
— Don Lemon, Former CNN Host
The takeaway
Lemon's claims of political targeting require more specifics and evidence to be taken seriously. Without details about the charges he faces or the circumstances of his arrest, it's difficult to assess whether his situation represents a genuine threat to press freedom or simply a personal grievance.
