Former CNN anchor Don Lemon found himself in a heated exchange with YouTube influencer and former professional soccer player Will John during a “man on the street” segment on TikTok.
The encounter, which quickly went viral, highlighted skepticism about media narratives and left Lemon on the defensive.
In the video, Lemon posed a question to John, seemingly attempting to advance a Democratic narrative. “Who is the real president-elect, you think?” Lemon asked.
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“Donald Trump won, I believe,” John replied, offering a straightforward response.
Lemon countered with claims that some Democratic lawmakers were referring to Elon Musk as “president” or “president-elect,” while suggesting that Trump was being labeled the “vice president or the head of communication.”
Unmoved by the narrative, John, who has nearly one million YouTube subscribers and over 300,000 TikTok followers, indicated he doesn’t pay much attention to media speculation.
“I’ve got a job. I’ve got to earn a living,” he said, highlighting a disconnect between everyday Americans and media-driven narratives.
As the conversation continued, Lemon pointed to outlets like Axios and The New York Times as sources for the “President Musk” narrative.
However, John immediately dismissed the credibility of those outlets.
“I don’t trust any of these,” John stated firmly. “We’re the common man. We don’t trust any of these. No one trusts the government. No one trusts the common news. We don’t trust any of that anymore.”
John’s remarks echoed sentiments often championed by Elon Musk on X, formerly Twitter, encouraging independent news and citizen journalism.
“Independent news, we are the ones that own the news now,” John added. “People trust me. They don’t trust MSNBC because I care, and I’m actually one of them.”
@goluremi @Don Lemon asks Will John who the real President-elect is? 🇺🇸Trump or Elon? 🤔#cnn #news #trump #elonmusk #foxnews #for ♬ original sound – GOLUREMI
This latest exchange adds to a series of challenges Lemon has faced since transitioning from traditional media to social platforms.
His TikTok debut featured a discussion about Trump’s cabinet picks, but the segment was overshadowed by users trolling him with turkey filters.
Don Lemon dramatically evacuated 𝕏 only to get turkey trolled on TikTok within hours 🤣 pic.twitter.com/7P87jb5YWr
— Danny De Urbina (@dannydeurbina) November 14, 2024
Lemon has also faced backlash in the past, including a moment of visible frustration when Trump was named Time Person of the Year. Now, his credibility was openly questioned by a social media influencer, leaving him visibly unsettled.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump dismissed the “President Musk” narrative with characteristic humor. “No, he’s not gonna be president, that I can tell you. And I’m safe, you know why? He can’t be—he wasn’t born in this country—HA HA!” Trump joked, brushing aside the narrative pushed by some Democrats.
🚨 TRUMP: “No, Elon Musk is NOT going to be President, that I can tell you. And I’m safe, you know why? Because he can’t be, he wasn’t born in this country. HAHAHA! 🫵😹” lmao pic.twitter.com/dEdEJzwOEm
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) December 22, 2024
John’s viral response highlights growing skepticism among Americans toward traditional media outlets and their narratives.
As independent creators and influencers continue to gain trust and audiences, figures like Lemon are increasingly finding their narratives challenged in real-time.
While Lemon’s attempt to assert control over the conversation may have faltered, the interaction underscores a broader shift in how Americans consume and trust news in the digital age.
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