Trump criticizes Don Lemon for his defense of free speech, describes the storming of a Minnesota church as a terrible event.

Trump Critiques Don Lemon at National Prayer Breakfast

WASHINGTON – President Trump took aim at former CNN anchor Don Lemon on Thursday, responding to Lemon’s assertion that he was acting as a journalist when confronting anti-ICE protesters at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

While speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump commended the Justice Department for indicting Lemon and eight others who disrupted worship services.

“I watched that footage, and it was quite violent,” Trump remarked to attendees at the Washington Hilton. “The pastor was excellent—very calm and kind. During the service, they kept yelling at him. It’s really appalling. This sort of thing should be illegal.”

“These are bad individuals. There’s one person specifically who has a strong disdain for President Trump,” he added, not directly naming Lemon. “It was outrageous. They tried to hide behind freedom of the press to justify their actions, which was distressing to see.”

Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on January 30 while covering the Grammy Awards, alongside independent journalist Georgia Fort, who was also caught up in the January 18 incident at the church.

Both have been released while the case unfolds.

The protestors entered Cities Church after claims surfaced that the pastor was involved with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Lemon broadcast the confrontation on his YouTube channel, suggesting he had prior knowledge of the planned protest.

Prosecutors claimed all nine involved “oppressed, intimidated, and threatened church members and the pastor” by remaining in the main aisle and engaging in “threatening and intimidating behavior.”

Specifically, Lemon is accused of “physically preventing” individuals from leaving the church during the unrest.

“They aim to humiliate you. They want to intimidate you and instill fear. That’s the purpose of their actions,” Lemon recounted during an appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Monday night.

Lemon and his legal team maintain that he was merely exercising his First Amendment rights as a journalist.

Federal charges against him include violations of the Freedom of Clinic Admissions Act (FACE), which protects access not only to abortion clinics but also extends to religious services.

“I haven’t pursued it, but [Attorney General] Pam [Bondi] mentioned the lawsuit against Lemon. President Trump commented Thursday, emphasizing that the public is pleased with the handling of the situation because these are, in his view, bad people.”