White House Takes Swipe at Don Lemon Following Arrest After Minnesota Church Protest – Entrepreneur

The White House has drawn criticism after mocking journalist Don Lemon on social media following his arrest in Los Angeles, an incident tied to his coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month.

Lemon was taken into custody Thursday night, though federal authorities had not publicly detailed the charges against him as of Friday afternoon. Within hours of news of the arrest, the official White House account on X posted a message appearing to ridicule the journalist, writing, “When life gives you lemons…” alongside a chain emoji.

Arrest Linked to Coverage of Church Protest

The arrest stems from a January protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where demonstrators interrupted a service to confront a pastor they alleged was affiliated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lemon, who had advance knowledge of the protest, was present with a producer from his independent news program to report on the events.

The protest, described by organizers as “Operation Pull Up,” involved chanting and disruption but no reported violence. Lemon later stated publicly that he and his team were observing and documenting the event, not participating in it.

Justice Department Signals Charges, Courts Push Back

In the days following the protest, the Department of Justice announced it was considering charges related to the incident and singled out Lemon by name. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon argued that journalistic activity does not provide immunity if a reporter is allegedly involved in a criminal conspiracy.

Former President Donald Trump amplified those claims on social media, characterizing the protest as a coordinated attack on a church and calling for accountability.

However, when federal authorities attempted to obtain arrest warrants related to the protest, courts declined to approve them. Minnesota Chief District Judge Patrick Schiltz stated there was no evidence that Lemon or his producer engaged in criminal conduct or conspired with demonstrators.

Confusion Over Legal Status

Despite the earlier court rulings, Lemon was arrested weeks later in Los Angeles under circumstances that remain unclear. White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair asserted online that Lemon had been indicted by a federal grand jury, though no such indictment appeared on public court records Friday morning.

Some media outlets reported that a grand jury had been convened, but officials have not confirmed whether formal charges have been filed.

Widespread Condemnation From Journalists and Lawmakers

Lemon’s arrest has prompted sharp backlash from lawmakers, press freedom organizations, and media outlets. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the move an abuse of power and demanded Lemon’s immediate release, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the arrest as alarming and inconsistent with constitutional protections.

Organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists, PEN America, and the Knight First Amendment Institute warned the case could have chilling implications for press freedom. CNN, where Lemon worked for nearly two decades, said the arrest raises serious concerns about the treatment of journalists in the United States.

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, characterized the arrest as an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and accused federal officials of targeting his client for political reasons.

Additional Arrests Raise More Questions

In a separate development, Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort was also detained by federal authorities and livestreamed her arrest on social media. As with Lemon, officials have not yet disclosed what charges, if any, she may face.

Lemon Responds

Lemon rejected allegations that he played any role beyond reporting on the protest, noting that multiple journalists were present at the scene. He said he has since received threats and abusive messages, including racist and homophobic attacks.

He also questioned the government’s focus on prosecuting journalists, arguing attention would be better directed toward investigating the underlying issues that motivated the protest.

Growing Debate Over Press Freedom

As legal uncertainty continues, the case has intensified debate over the limits of journalism, protest coverage, and government authority. With no charges publicly detailed and conflicting claims from officials, critics say transparency will be essential in determining whether the arrest was justified—or a troubling precedent for reporters covering politically sensitive events.