Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly is urging independent journalist Don Lemon to enter the 2028 presidential race, arguing that his background in media should not disqualify him from public service.
Kelly made the remarks Tuesday on her YouTube program, pointing to Lemon’s October 3 appearance on the podcast “Uncloseted,” where he estimated the chances of launching a White House bid at roughly 65 to 70 percent. “OK, I’m going to shock you,” Kelly told viewers. “I think he should do it. I actually think he should do it. First of all, it’s not a dealbreaker that he has spent his life as a journalist. I mean, you could absolutely parlay that into a career in public service.”
In making her case, Kelly took aim at former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning whether they possess superior intellect to Lemon. “I know [Harris] was at least a lawyer, she was an attorney general for the state of California – no, I don’t believe so,” Kelly said. “Do you think Joe Biden was? I don’t. Are we so enamored with our public officials now [that] we don’t think somebody like Don Lemon could do it? Honestly, I’m not.” She added that Lemon could “match wits against” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Kelly predicted a Lemon candidacy would generate extensive media coverage. “I encourage him and I’m rooting for him. He doesn’t actually think he’s going to win, however,” she said before airing a clip from “Uncloseted” in which Lemon discussed the prospect of becoming the first Black, gay president. In that clip, Lemon said he believes the country is ready for such a candidate, though perhaps not by 2028.
Lemon told host Spencer Macnaughton that some viewers had asked him about running for office, specifically the presidency. While he said there is “a lot on my plate right now,” he described the feedback as “very humbling.” “If the people want me, I’ll do it,” he said last week. “But it is a daunting undertaking to run for president in this country because you’d have to be devoted to it full-time. And I would like to devote much of my time to journalism.”
Lemon launched “The Don Lemon Show” on YouTube after CNN fired him in 2023. He has been a vocal critic of President Trump for years.
Earlier this year, Lemon was indicted on federal civil rights and conspiracy charges stemming from his reporting on a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a Minnesota church.
Only two U.S. presidents have come from journalism backgrounds: Warren G. Harding and John F. Kennedy, according to a July report by Business Insider. Harding was editor and publisher of the Marion Star, which he bought for $300 in 1884, while Kennedy served as a foreign correspondent for Hearst Newspapers during World War II. If Lemon were to run, he would join a long list of diplomats, lawyers, generals, lawmakers and celebrities who have sought the nation’s highest office.
Kelly’s endorsement comes as speculation swirls around several potential 2028 contenders. For more on Lemon’s own assessment of a possible bid, see his stated odds of a White House run. Meanwhile, Kelly has not shied from weighing in on other political matters, recently calling for Hegseth’s removal over a proposal to televise an execution.
