Actor and outspoken President Donald Trump supporter James Woods did not mince words when he criticized former CNN host Don Lemon over his role in covering a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota, blasting Lemon as a stain on American journalism.
Woods made the remarks Wednesday while appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show to promote his new album, Tombstone Opera. During the conversation with Megyn Kelly, Woods joined in sharply condemning Lemon for following protesters into Cities Church in St. Paul as they interrupted an ongoing service. The incident has since drawn serious scrutiny, with Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing multiple arrests of alleged organizers and describing the disruption as an “attack.”
President Donald Trump has also weighed in, publicly suggesting that Lemon could face legal consequences over his involvement. Woods dismissed the episode as a staged spectacle, calling it a “dog and pony show,” and took direct aim at Lemon, labeling him a “fake journalist” and a “poor excuse for an American.”
Lemon has maintained that he did not know protesters planned to storm the church and said he was merely reporting on events as they unfolded. Kelly rejected that explanation, calling it a lie and playing a clip in which Lemon and his colleagues referenced entering a church on the same day the protest took place.
Woods escalated his criticism, delivering a caustic line that drew attention online. He said Lemon was “the dingleberry hanging on the a** of American journalism,” adding that when CNN parted ways with him, they “didn’t wipe hard enough.” The comment underscored Woods’ view that Lemon’s credibility was already in question long before the Minnesota incident.
Beyond personal attacks, Woods argued that the church protest served as a deliberate distraction. He claimed it was designed to divert attention away from investigations into what he described as potentially massive government fraud in Minnesota, suggesting the controversy was being used to shift the public narrative.
“Here is the bottom line,” Woods said. “This is a trick. It’s a diversion.” He insisted that Lemon was fully aware of what was about to happen and rejected the idea that the former CNN host was caught off guard by the protesters’ actions.
Kelly largely agreed with Woods’ assessment but emphasized that conservatives should continue pushing back against the church disruption regardless of motive. She argued that the protest crossed a clear line by targeting a place of worship and that such tactics cannot be ignored.
“Certain tactics go beyond,” Kelly said, adding that they must be confronted. Woods responded by agreeing completely, saying the incident represented a new low. Kelly echoed that sentiment, declaring the protest an unprecedented breach.
The demonstration at Cities Church was one of several protests that erupted across Minnesota following an incident earlier this month in which an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis mother Renee Good. The protests have focused on ICE and federal immigration enforcement, but the church disruption drew particular outrage due to the setting and timing.
As the fallout continues, Woods’ remarks reflect growing frustration among conservatives who view the protest and Lemon’s coverage as emblematic of what they see as media bias and a willingness to excuse extreme behavior when it aligns with progressive causes.
