Former CNN host Don Lemon was escorted from the U.S. Capitol building on Tuesday after joining a group of anti-Trump activists who entered Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s office demanding a meeting with the Georgia congresswoman.
The incident occurred on September 3, 2024, when Lemon accompanied protesters led by Carlos Alvarez, founder of American Opposition, into Greene’s office to express their opposition to President Donald Trump. Video footage captured the tense exchange between the activists and Greene’s staff members.
Alvarez informed a staffer at the front desk that the group wanted to ensure Greene knew they needed to get Trump impeached and removed from office. He referenced ongoing protests and boycotts that his organization had helped initiate. Lemon stood beside Alvarez holding a microphone, documenting the confrontation for his YouTube show.
When a Greene staffer entered the room and instructed the group to stop recording, tensions escalated. The staffer explained that the office was private property, but Alvarez pushed back, stating they were there to see the congresswoman. The staff member responded that the visitors were not residents of Greene’s district and had not requested a formal meeting through proper channels.
The staffer criticized their approach, indicating that bombarding the office and recording staff was not an appropriate method for requesting meetings. Alvarez defended the group’s behavior as civil, while Lemon interjected that they were American citizens, suggesting they had a right to speak with Greene.
A heated argument ensued over the group’s right to record inside the office. Alvarez claimed recording was protected by First Amendment rights, but the staffer firmly rejected this assertion. Greene later accused Lemon and the group of harassing her staff.
When Alvarez told the staffer that Greene worked for them as taxpayers, the staff member clarified that they worked specifically for the people of northwest Georgia. The staffer then ushered the group out of the office and closed the door.
Following their removal, members of the activist group made obscene gestures at the closed door, with one person heard calling the staff members derogatory names. A Capitol Police officer instructed them to quiet down as the group celebrated in the hallway outside Greene’s office.
This incident represents part of a broader pattern of confrontations involving Greene’s office and various activist groups. The Georgia representative has previously stated that she receives numerous death threats and faces regular protests from opposition groups who disagree with her political positions and support for Trump.
Lemon, who was terminated from CNN earlier in 2024, has since launched his own digital media venture and has been documenting various political protests and events. His presence at the Capitol building protest marked another instance of the former cable news host inserting himself into political demonstrations since leaving traditional broadcast journalism.
The confrontation highlights ongoing tensions between progressive activist groups and conservative Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Greene has been a frequent target of protests due to her vocal support for Trump and her controversial statements on various political issues.
Greene’s office maintained that the protesters’ behavior was inappropriate and disruptive to normal operations. The congresswoman has consistently defended her staff against what she characterizes as harassment from opposition groups seeking to intimidate her office through unscheduled visits and confrontational tactics.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by congressional offices in managing public access while maintaining security and proper protocols. Congressional staff members are tasked with balancing constituent services with protecting the safety and privacy of their workplaces, particularly when dealing with unscheduled visitors who may be recording interactions.
