MAGA supporters are calling for the arrest of prominent journalist Don Lemon following his involvement in covering a disruptive protest at a church in Minnesota on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
Church Service Interrupted by Anti-ICE Activists
The incident unfolded at the Cities Church in St Paul, where demonstrators stormed into the building during a service. The group was protesting against the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota and demanding justice for Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was shot dead by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Don Lemon, now an independent broadcaster after leaving CNN, was conducting a live stream outside the church, interviewing a participant before entering with the group. Inside, activists chanted "ICE out" and accused a pastor of collaborating with the federal agency.
Protester Nekima Levy Armstrong told Lemon beforehand: "This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities."
Conservatives Invoke the FACE Act
Footage of the event circulated widely on social media, sparking fury among conservative commentators. The MAGA Voice account and influencers like Benny Johnson called for Lemon to be investigated by the Department of Justice and FBI.
They argued his actions violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, which protects reproductive health clinics and places of worship from intimidation and obstruction. Other right-wing figures, including Matt Walsh and Baptist minister Paul Chappell, echoed these demands for legal action.
Worshippers expressed feeling violated, with one stating: "These people have come into our house and they’ve interrupted our worship... I feel violated, I feel interrupted, I feel angry."
Federal and State Responses Highlight Deep Divide
The Trump administration swiftly responded. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced the DOJ's Civil Rights Division was investigating potential FACE Act violations. Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued statements condemning the intimidation of Christian worshippers.
In contrast, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat interviewed by Lemon that day, offered support, thanking him for "being on the ground in Minnesota to help lift up this fight for truth and fairness."
The protest is part of broader unrest in Minnesota following President Trump's deployment of 3,000 ICE agents to the state. The killing of Renee Good has fuelled demonstrations, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanding the agents leave. The DOJ has since announced an investigation into Frey and Governor Tim Walz for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.
