Megyn Kelly Urges Don Lemon to Run for President

Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly has encouraged media rival Don Lemon to pursue a presidential run in the 2028 election, suggesting he could provide a stronger alternative to current political figures.

During an episode of "The Megyn Kelly Show," Kelly stated, "I’m going to shock you. I think he should do it. I actually think he should do it." She argued that Lemon, a former CNN anchor, could transition into public service and questioned whether current political figures like Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Joe Biden are significantly more qualified.

"Do you really think Kamala Harris is a lot smarter than Don Lemon? Do you?" Kelly asked. "Do you think Joe Biden was? I don’t. Are we so enamored with our public officials now, we don’t think somebody like Don Lemon could do it? Honestly! I’m not."

Lemon, who now hosts his own podcast after his departure from CNN in April 2023, has previously expressed serious consideration for a 2028 presidential bid, asserting he would be a "really good" commander-in-chief. He has even suggested using his podcasting platform for his campaign.

Kelly believes Lemon could effectively engage in political discourse, even suggesting he could "match wits against AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] just fine." She added, "All I can say is it would certainly give us a lot to talk about, so I encourage him and I’m rooting for him."

Lemon's tenure at CNN ended after accusations of sexist and "diva-like behavior." He has since worked as an independent journalist. In January, he faced federal civil rights charges following his arrest during a protest at a church service in Minnesota, to which he pleaded not guilty, asserting he was acting in his capacity as an independent journalist. Kelly herself faced scrutiny and was dismissed from NBC News in 2018 after defending the use of blackface in Halloween costumes.