Vice President JD Vance has openly mocked two prominent journalists while strongly defending the Trump administration's legal actions against former CNN anchor Don Lemon. In a revealing interview with Megyn Kelly, Vance chuckled over recent controversies involving President Trump's remarks toward CNN's Kaitlan Collins and declared the Department of Justice's case against Lemon to be "rock solid."
Vance's Defence of the Don Lemon Case
The vice president addressed the ongoing legal proceedings against Don Lemon, who was arrested following an anti-ICE protest that occurred inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota last month. Lemon has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he violated civil rights during the demonstration at Cities Church.
"You were sticking a microphone in the face of a minister during the church service while the people you were with were preventing people from leaving," Vance asserted during the interview. "That's a violation of the law. That's not about the First Amendment. If you care about criticizing our immigration policies, then stand outside the church and protest. You don't get to violate other people's rights."
Lemon's Response and Allegations
Don Lemon, who maintains he was acting as an independent journalist covering the protest, has publicly defended his actions. Following a court hearing last month, Lemon stated: "I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now."
The journalist has made serious allegations about his arrest, claiming the Trump administration deployed an excessive number of federal agents to detain him in Los Angeles. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Lemon described how agents surprised him in his hotel room and attempted to handcuff him before properly identifying themselves or presenting a warrant.
"They want to embarrass you," Lemon told Kimmel. "They want to intimidate you. They want to instill fear. And so that's why they did it that way."
Mockery of Kaitlan Collins
During the same interview, Vance also mocked CNN's chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins regarding a recent incident where President Trump attacked the reporter. The president had criticised Collins for not smiling while she questioned him about the Epstein files, prompting online discussions about potential sexism in the remark.
Vance chuckled as Kelly mentioned these discussions, suggesting the president's observation was perceptive. "It's actually like so perceptive, even if you're asking a tough question, even if you take your job very seriously, like why does it always have to be so antagonistic?" Vance wondered, adding, "Have some fun."
Media Reactions and Defence of Collins
Kelly noted that disgraced former Fox News executive Roger Ailes, who faced multiple sexual harassment allegations, had once told her: "Every once in a while you have to smile."
Following the White House incident, CNN issued a strong statement defending Collins as "an exceptional journalist" who works with "real depth and tenacity." Collins's colleague Jake Tapper took to social media to criticise Vance's response, highlighting that Collins was asking important questions about how the Justice Department was handling sensitive information regarding survivors of child trafficking.
The exchange represents another chapter in the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and media organisations, with Vance's comments providing clear insight into the administration's perspective on journalistic conduct during protests and presidential interactions.
