ABC’s “The View” devoted part of its Monday, February 2, 2026 broadcast to the federal arrest and indictment of former CNN anchor Don Lemon, with co-host Ana Navarro arguing the case reflects political “gaslighting” and a broader attempt to deter reporters from covering sensitive stories.
Ana Navarro, a co-host of ABC’s daytime talk show “The View,” said on Monday that the Trump administration’s pursuit of former CNN anchor Don Lemon is part of an effort to intimidate journalists.
The discussion followed Lemon’s late-January arrest by federal agents after he covered a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota. News reports have identified the church as Cities Church in St. Paul, where demonstrators entered during worship on January 18, 2026. Lemon has said he was there to report independently and was not part of the organizing effort.
During “Hot Topics,” Navarro pointed to an earlier court fight over arrest warrants in the case and said an appeals court’s refusal to force a lower-court judge to sign warrants showed skepticism about the government’s approach. She argued the episode was “gaslighting” and intended to send “a chilling message” to journalists, adding that those targeted “happen to be black” and noting the timing during Black History Month.
Co-host Sunny Hostin—who described herself as a friend of Lemon—said she expected the case to be dismissed and emphasized that Lemon was “getting the story” as a journalist. Other co-hosts, including Alyssa Farah Griffin, also framed Lemon’s actions as reporting.
Whoopi Goldberg, meanwhile, warned that the arrest could have broader implications for public figures and media personalities, asking, “If it’s happening like this for someone who is out and clearly doing his job, what do you think will happen to us?”
Court records and reporting on the indictment have described prosecutors’ allegations that Lemon had advance knowledge of the protest’s plans and, during a livestream, took steps to avoid publicly disclosing details before demonstrators entered the church. Lemon and his attorney have disputed that his conduct amounted to criminal participation, arguing that his work is protected by the First Amendment.
The case has intensified debate over where the line falls between documenting a protest and becoming part of it, particularly when demonstrations target religious worship and government officials cite civil-rights protections for congregants.
