Don Lemon, the fired ex-CNN star turned podcast philosopher, wants America to know he’s not joking around anymore about his future political aspirations.
During an appearance on the “Can’t Be Censored” podcast, Lemon told hosts Travis Dhanraj and Karman Wong he’s “totally serious” about weighing a run for the White House.
“I actually think I would be a really good president of the United States,” Lemon declared.
When Dhanraj pressed him — “Okay, like you’re being serious?” — Lemon didn’t blink.
Don Lemon says he is “seriously” weighing a run for president and insists he’d be “really good” at it.
DON LEMON: “I actually think I would be a really good president of the United States.”
[The host does a double-take]
HOST: “Okay, like, you’re being serious?”
DON LEMON:… pic.twitter.com/sjv3W0cFfq
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) July 16, 2026
Lemon continued by outlining a hypothetical campaign focused on no fundraising, no donors, just regular Americans slipping him five and ten dollar bills because he knows “the economy is tough.”
“For the people to want me. What it would take is if I ran a political campaign, a presidential campaign, I would like to run it, and I don’t know if this is realistic or not, without having to beg for money. I would like it to be a voter-citizen-driven campaign for as much as it can be. Maybe at some point I might have to take a donation. I would rather not do that, but I would rather the people of the United States to say, ‘That’s the guy that we want. I’m gonna give him five dollars or $10’ or something that doesn’t break the bank because I know that the economy is tough,” Lemon said.
Lemon, who has clashed opening with President Trump, based the president on the podcast saying was “not doing a great job for the working-class people, for the American economy,” insisting the president’s policies only help the wealthy and anyone lucky enough to have a 401(k).
“I’ve stuck my toe into it, if you want to put it that way, or I’ve dabbled, I’ve talked to people about it, people who have been in politics before, what would it take? When would I have to get in to do it? And I’d have to be really serious about it,” he said.
He added, “So as we get closer to 2027 or 2028, I’ll see. I’ll decide. But I have enough on my hands right now.”
Back in March, on “Pod Save America,” Lemon floated another 2028 run, saying that he could “definitely run this country better than Donald Trump,” while also admitting he’d have to ditch his independent registration and become a Democrat to do it.
Convenient timing for a guy suddenly rediscovering his love of country right as 2028 chatter heats up.
Asked point-blank this week whether he’s seriously exploring a bid, Lemon copped to “dabbling” — chatting up political operatives about timing and logistics. His final verdict: “As we get closer to 2027 or 2028, I’ll see. I’ll decide. But I have enough on my hands right now.”
In response to Lemon’s aspirations, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said, “Don Lemon is a low ratings loser that no one takes seriously.”