Don Lemon’s Former CNN Colleague Wonders Whether He Should Be Considered A Journalist

Chris Cillizza, a former CNN editor-at-large, is publicly questioning whether his ex-colleague Don Lemon deserves to be called a journalist.

Cillizza penned a Substack piece Thursday with the headline “Is Don Lemon a Journalist?” The commentary came after Lemon livestreamed protesters who stormed a Minnesota church last Sunday. Cillizza and Lemon both worked at CNN before the network dismissed them separately. Cillizza noted they were “certainly cordial” but not close friends.

The former CNN commentator argued that Lemon carries a “VERY clear lean to his work.” He pointed to Lemon’s own Substack headlines as evidence. Those headlines include “Donald Trump Is An International JOKE” and “Donald Trump Embarrasses America at World Summit!” (RELATED: Don Lemon Claims It’s ‘Journalism’ To Defend Anti-ICE Rioters Who Stormed Church)

“He is a partisan. Who also does things that journalists do — interview people, etc. Does that make him a journalist? Is the term ‘partisan journalist’ an oxymoron?” Cillizza wrote.

Cillizza said he struggles with the question given the rapid changes in how people consume news. He stopped short of declaring himself the “final arbiter” of who qualifies as a journalist.

Lemon fired back Thursday night on his YouTube show, Fox News Digital reported.

“I stand proud, and I stand tall,” Lemon said. “This is not a victory lap for me, because it’s not over. They’re going to try again, and they’re going to try again. And guess what? Here I am. Keep trying.”

NEW: Don Lemon tries lecturing a pastor on the First Amendment after a mob of far leftists stormed a church in Minneapolis.

Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”

Lemon: “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First… pic.twitter.com/joHdCvaXe6

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2026

Lemon dared the Department of Justice to continue pursuing him. “That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. You’re not going to diminish my voice. Go ahead. Make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel if you want,” Lemon said. “Just do it! Because I’m not going anywhere.”

His attorney Abbe Lowell told Fox News Digital that the magistrate’s decision “confirm[s] the nature of Don’s First Amendment-protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter.”

A federal magistrate judge rejected the DOJ’s attempt to charge Lemon on Thursday. Attorney General Pam Bondi was reportedly “enraged” at the decision. The DOJ may still pursue charges through other avenues.