In June 2023, recently fired CNN host Don Lemon claimed, “I don’t believe in platforming liars and bigots, insurrectionists and election deniers, and putting them on the same footing as people who are telling the truth.” If Lemon really believes that, he should deplatform himself because on Tuesday’s episode of The Don Lemon Show podcast, he and actress Kathy Griffin went all in on 2024 stolen election conspiracy theories.
At the end of the show, Griffin asked, “You ready for a tinfoil hat moment?” After Lemon affirmed he was, Griffin threw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall to see if any of it would stick:
Okay, I’m just going to be bold and say this, and, you know, you can take issue with this all you want: I do not think he won in a free and fair election. How do you like that, lefties? Yeah, I said it. I’m Kathy Griffin, and I do not think Trump won in a free and fair election. I believe there was tampering. I don’t know if it was the Elon connection. I don’t know if it was just a few good old boys in the South who didn’t, you know, what they accuse us of. Remember Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss, what they tend to accuse us of, is what we find out they themselves did. So, I know I’ll take heat for this, and people are going to say I’m crazy, but I’ve been called crazy before, Don, and I just, the more times—
As Griffin confused kookiness or boldness, even Lemon could see that Griffin had no proof, but nevertheless, he still hyped the idea, “Your gut is telling you something.” Griffin confirmed that interpretation, “My gut is telling me something was up with that.”
Lemon also insisted he had no proof that Donald Trump stole the 2024 election, but he was certain something fishy happened, “You’re not far off. I won’t say that I disagree with you, but, you know, I’m an evidence person. I like to see the evidence. I think something was off, and especially, you know, when someone said, ‘Oh, we got this,’ and, you know, how do you know that? How do you know we got this?”
That’s called “confidence.” No presidential candidate says, “I think we’re going to lose.”
After the duo rattled off some more of Trump’s other quotes that allegedly showed something was wrong, Lemon wrapped up, ‘“Vote for me and you won’t have to vote again anymore,’ and also, you know, as you said, every accusation is a confession.”
That’s a logic train Lemon hasn’t taken to its natural conclusion. If that is true, then his and Griffin’s accusations are proof 2020 was stolen. Between Lemon, fellow podcaster and CNN colleague Jim Acosta, and ABC’s The View, this week has shown holding people accountable for election denial only matters for the media if it is about 2020. If it is about 2000, 2004, 2016, or 2024, then there is not only no problem; in some cases, it is even praised.
Here is a transcript for the June 3 show:
The Don Lemon Show
6/7/2025
46 Minutes, 37 Seconds
KATHY GRIFFIN: Alright, you ready for a tinfoil hat moment?
DON LEMON: I’m sorry.
GRIFFIN: You ready for a tinfoil hat moment?
LEMON: Yes.
GRIFFIN: Okay, I’m just going to be bold and say this, and, you know, you can take issue with this all you want: I do not think he won in a free and fair election. How do you like that, lefties? Yeah, I said it. I’m Kathy Griffin and I do not think Trump won in a free and fair election. I believe there was tampering. I don’t know if it was the Elon connection. I don’t know if it was just a few good old boys in the South who didn’t, you know, what they accuse us of. Remember Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss, what they tend to accuse us of, is what we find out they themselves did. So, I know I’ll take heat for this, and people are going to say I’m crazy, but I’ve been called crazy before, Don, and I just, the more times—
LEMON: Your gut is telling you something.
GRIFFIN: My gut is telling me something was up with that.
LEMON: You’re not far off. I won’t say that I disagree with you, but, you know, I’m an evidence person. I like to see the evidence. I think something was off, and especially, you know, when someone said, “Oh, we got this,” and, you know, how do you know that?
GRIFFIN: Right.
LEMON: How do you know we got this?
GRIFFIN: That was clear.
LEMON: “I don’t need your vote” or anything like that.
GRIFFIN: Right, “this’ll be the last election.
LEMON: Yes.
GRIFFIN: We won’t have any elections after this.”
LEMON: “Vote for me and you won’t have to vote again anymore” and also, you know, as you said, every accusation is a confession.
