Rap superstar Nicki Minaj sharply criticized former CNN anchor Don Lemon following a disruptive anti-ICE protest that interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, accusing him of playing a role in organizing or inciting the incident.
The protest took place Sunday at Cities Church, where activists entered during a previously peaceful service. Lemon livestreamed portions of the event and made comments suggesting he had prior knowledge of the demonstration.
In footage recorded by Lemon’s own team before the protest, he is seen discussing what he described as a “secret operation” with activists. The video shows Lemon acknowledging that the group knew the church’s address and instructing those with him not to reveal the location publicly.
“We’re not going to give any of the information away,” Lemon said in one clip. In another, he added, “We don’t know what’s happening. We kind of do, but we don’t know how it’s going to play out.”
DON ‘COCK SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING.
HOW DARE YOU?
I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!!
HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION.
LOCK HIM UP!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xoQBl9KDJY
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 19, 2026
Minaj, who is a Christian and a supporter of President Donald Trump, reacted forcefully on X, posting an all-caps message condemning Lemon and calling for legal consequences. Her post, which included explicit language, went viral, garnering nearly 50,000 likes, more than 7,000 reposts, and thousands of supportive replies by Monday evening.
Lemon responded in a TikTok video, calling Minaj “unhinged,” “out of her depth,” and a “homophobic bigot.” He also suggested she should be deported under President Trump’s immigration policies. Minaj was born in Trinidad and is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The world is watching. pic.twitter.com/R9Ukb21oZP
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 19, 2026
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice under President Trump announced it is reviewing potential charges against Lemon under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, a Reconstruction-era federal law designed to protect civil and religious rights from organized interference or intimidation.
On Monday, attorney Harmeet Dhillon discussed the issue on The Benny Show, explaining the legal significance of the statute.
“The Klan Act is one of the most important federal civil rights laws,” Dhillon said. “It makes it illegal to conspire to terrorize people or violate their civil rights, including religious freedom.”
Don Lemon responds to @NICKIMINAJ, calls her post “unhinged” and “homophobic.”
Claims she is “out of her depth.”
This guy is so full of himself its unreal. pic.twitter.com/UmmdDHkK4U
— Cassandra MacDonald (@CassandraRules) January 19, 2026
BREAKING: DOJ Announces Intention to Charge Don Lemon under the Ku Klux Klan Act.
The KKK Act makes it illegal to threaten, hurt, or intimidate people to prevent them from exercising their God-given rights.
HARMEET DHILLON: “The Klan Act is one of the most important federal… pic.twitter.com/GWnXAMtWc9
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 19, 2026
Dhillon warned that the federal government intends to take church disruptions seriously, drawing comparisons to the enforcement of the FACE Act against protesters outside abortion clinics.
“Everyone involved in these kinds of protests needs to understand that the full force of the federal government will be used to stop this conduct and hold people accountable,” she said.