The White House sparked backlash and celebration in equal measure Friday morning after publicly highlighting the arrest of independent journalist Don Lemon in connection with unrest tied to anti-ICE protests in Minnesota.
The official White House account on X posted an image of Lemon reporting amid protests in St. Paul, where demonstrators disrupted a church service to confront the lead pastor. The post featured a tongue-in-cheek caption reading, “When life gives you lemons…” alongside a silver chain emoji. A graphic included in the post declared, “DON LEMON ARRESTED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE ST. PAUL CHURCH RIOTS,” superimposed over Lemon’s photo.
Lemon, a former CNN anchor who has worked as an independent journalist since being fired by the network in 2023, has denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that he was not a participant in the protests but was present solely in a journalistic capacity to cover demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in and around Minneapolis.
Federal law enforcement officials, however, described the arrests as part of a broader operation tied to what they called a coordinated attack. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that four individuals were taken into custody early Friday morning in connection with the January 18 targeting of Cities Church in St. Paul. The individuals named were Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy.
According to Patel, the arrests were carried out jointly by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. One of those arrested, Georgia Fort, is a Minneapolis-based independent journalist who livestreamed her arrest by federal agents, quickly spreading footage of the operation online.
Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed the arrests, saying they were conducted at her direction. In a statement, Bondi said federal agents moved early Friday to arrest the four individuals in connection with the coordinated incident at Cities Church. She promised additional details would be released soon, signaling that the investigation is ongoing.
The White House’s decision to publicly highlight Lemon’s arrest, particularly in a mocking tone, drew sharp criticism from some corners of the media and political left. Critics accused the Trump administration of celebrating what they claimed was an attack on press freedom and First Amendment rights.
Former NBC News journalist Chuck Todd was among those voicing outrage. He accused the administration of prioritizing political point-scoring over constitutional principles, writing that the episode showed a willingness to cheer what he called a blatant violation of individual rights. Todd also criticized members of the media he said were applauding the arrest, arguing they were only interested in protecting speech they agree with.
Supporters of the administration, however, viewed the arrests as a necessary response to disorder and disruption tied to anti-ICE activism. Federal officials have framed the incident at the church as a coordinated action rather than a spontaneous protest, a distinction that has become central to the debate over the arrests.
Lemon’s case has quickly become a flashpoint in the broader clash between the Trump administration and media figures critical of its immigration policies. While Lemon insists he was simply reporting the news, federal authorities appear to be treating the matter as part of a wider investigation into organized activity surrounding the St. Paul incident.
As the administration promises more details, the arrests — and the White House’s unapologetic response — underscore how aggressively the Trump administration is willing to confront what it sees as unrest tied to opposition against federal immigration enforcement, even when high-profile media figures are involved.
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