Nicki Minaj Calls for Don Lemon’s Arrest Over His Coverage of Minnesota Church ICE Protest

On January 19, 2026, rapper Nicki Minaj launched a sharp online attack against journalist Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor, via posts on X (formerly Twitter). Minaj accused Lemon of disrespecting Christianity by covering an anti-ICE protest that interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota. The demonstration at Cities Church targeted Pastor David Easterwood, who also serves as an acting field office director for ICE in the region. Protesters disrupted the service to demand accountability for the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier in January, amid heightened immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration. Minaj’s post included a homophobic slur, referring to Lemon as ‘DON ‘COCK SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING,’ called him a ‘thug,’ and repeatedly demanded ‘LOCK HIM UP!!!!!’ while claiming he would not act similarly toward other religions. She accompanied it with an image of a Chucky doll and later retweeted inflammatory content mocking Lemon’s interracial marriage. Minaj also posed ‘True or False? #ArrestDonLemon.’ The outburst tied into broader criticism of Lemon’s reporting, with some conservative figures alleging violations of the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, though Lemon was present as a journalist livestreaming on YouTube and BlueSky, not participating in the protest. Don Lemon responded to TMZ, dismissing Minaj’s understanding of journalism and suggesting she was out of her depth in political matters. The Department of Justice, including Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon, indicated investigations into potential FACE Act violations related to the church disruption. Minaj’s recent public support for Donald Trump, appearances at events like AmericaFest, and comments perceived as anti-transgender have drawn additional scrutiny and calls from some fans for her deportation to Trinidad and Tobago.