Former CNN host Don Lemon says he is considering a presidential campaign, but former colleagues interviewed by Fox News voiced mixed views about whether he would enter the race or mount a serious bid.
Lemon recently estimated the odds of a run at 65% to 70%. He has also said he believes he would make a good president. In comments reported by Fox News, one former CNN staffer joked that Lemon’s past remarks about then-presidential candidate Nikki Haley being past her “prime” would apply to him as well. Lemon, 60, apologized after the 2023 comments about Haley, who was 51 at the time.
Other former colleagues described a potential campaign as entertaining but doubted Lemon would proceed. One said a run could be a way for Lemon to pursue political influence, while arguing that campaigning would require a level of focus difficult to combine with a media career. Another staffer said Lemon’s repeated public comments made the possibility difficult to dismiss, despite uncertainty about how serious he is.
Lemon was fired from CNN in 2023 and later started his own media company. Fox News reported that he has said people have encouraged him to run. He has described wanting a campaign driven by voters and citizens, while saying he would prefer not to rely on donations.
The source also reports that Lemon was indicted earlier in 2026 in connection with livestreaming an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church. Lemon has maintained that he was working as a journalist and was not part of the group that harassed churchgoers. The supplied account does not establish whether he has formally launched a campaign. Lemon did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
