Don Lemon says there’s ’65, 70 percent chance’ he runs for president

Former CNN anchor and media personality Don Lemon says he has considered running for president of the U.S. one day, and he put the chances of him doing so at greater than 50 percent.

“Look, I never say never. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now doing what I’m doing. This is not easy to do every day, but I have to be, I am very aware of the importance of what I’m doing, what it means to the culture and society,” Lemon said of his podcast and online commentary show during an appearance on Spencer Macnaughton’s “Uncloseted” podcast.

Lemon started his show after being fired by CNN in 2023.

The pundit called the feedback he gets from people in the community when he is out reporting “very humbling,” and said some of them ask him about pursuing elected office, specifically running for president.

“And I said, ‘Oh, well, definitely. I think I could be a better president than Donald Trump,'” Lemon said. “How serious is it? If the people want me, I’ll do it. But it is a daunting undertaking to run for president in this country because you’d have to be devoted to it full-time. And I would like to devote much of my time to journalism.”

Lemon seemed to suggest it was possible for him to be a candidate for office and a media personality at the same time, saying “maybe that’s a way of running that has not been mined.”

Asked what the chances are he one days announces a bid for the White House, Lemon responded, “What percentage chance that I think I’ll run? … 65, 70.”

“When I’m out there, I’m out there and I cover the candidates and I look at what they do and they’re very good,” he continued. “It makes me wonder my best way of being and operating in this society, whether it is through journalism or if it is through becoming the president of the United States.”

Lemon has been an outspoken critic of President Trump for years. Earlier this year, he was hit with a felony indictment on federal civil rights and conspiracy crimes in connection with his reporting on an anti-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement protest at a Minnesota church.

He has argued Trump’s Justice Department is targeting him because of his views on and criticism of the president.