Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is under fire after suggesting that people should arm themselves in anticipation of possible encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — a reckless comment that has drawn swift and angry responses from conservatives and law enforcement advocates.
Speaking on “The Left Hook” podcast with Wajahat Ali, Lemon said that “Black people, brown people of all stripes” should “go out, in your place where you live and get a gun legally, get a license to carry legally,” arguing that the Second Amendment exists to protect citizens from being “taken away without due process.”
He added that he was “not condoning or promoting violence,” but the comment nonetheless ignited outrage across the political spectrum.
“If you believe in the Second Amendment, if you believe in the Constitution… when you have people knocking on your door and taking you away without due process as a citizen, isn’t that what the Second Amendment was written for?” Lemon said.
Lemon’s comments, however, went beyond the typical policy debate — prompting many to accuse him of illegally encouraging confrontation with federal officers.
Robby Starbuck, a conservative filmmaker and activist, accused Lemon of “inciting violence against ICE agents,” while the Libs of TikTok account, which has more than 4 million followers, claimed he was “encouraging violence and promoting lawlessness.”
Conservative commentator CJ Pearson said the comments reflected “a dangerous and irresponsible mindset,” adding that “the left is trying to get ICE agents killed.”
Lemon, who was canned at CNN in 2023 after his primetime show was canceled and a stint on the network’s morning show turned into a disaster, has since rebranded himself as an independent media personality. His remarks on The Left Hook follow a series of controversial statements that have strained his reputation, even among moderates.
Earlier this year, Lemon faced criticism for claiming that black “rational MAGA” supporters “don’t exist,” which many called dismissive and racially divisive.
Ali, the podcast’s host, defended Lemon’s comments when reached by Fox News, saying they were protected under the First Amendment.
“Don was speaking in broad constitutional terms about self-defense and due process,” Ali said. “He explicitly said he wasn’t advocating violence.”
Still, legal experts and political analysts said Lemon’s phrasing was reckless at a time of high tension between law enforcement and immigrant communities. “It’s certainly justifiable to criticize the president’s use of ICE agents,” said Thomas Gift, founding director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London. “But responding with a form of vigilante justice — suggesting that immigrants take up arms against law enforcement — is a step too far. It’s little wonder there’s been backlash to Lemon’s comments.”
ICE has not commented publicly on the remarks, but law enforcement unions condemned them as “dangerous and inflammatory.” Several groups representing federal officers said such rhetoric could embolden resistance during enforcement operations and increase the risk of violence.
“Encouraging people to arm themselves in anticipation of an ICE encounter is not civil discourse — it’s an invitation to chaos,” said one former Department of Homeland Security official. “Law enforcement already faces serious risk in the field, and this kind of talk makes their jobs more dangerous.”
Lemon’s comments come as Trump’s mass deportation initiative enters its ninth month. The administration has defended its use of National Guard troops and federal task forces to assist immigration authorities, arguing that the measures are necessary to curb violent protests and protect agents.
Though Lemon insisted his suggestion was “about rights, not violence,” critics argue that his message could easily be misconstrued.