Former CNN star Don Lemon makes outrageous claims about Trump 2024 presidential victory
Former CNN host Don Lemon claimed 'something was off' in Donald Trump 's second presidential election victory, suggesting the now-president may have 'rigged' the election.
Lemon's bold suggestion came during a Tuesday episode of his hit podcast, The Don Lemon Show, featuring comedian and provocateur Kathy Griffin.
Griffin, 64, kicked off the controversial discussion about the 47th president's 2024 election victory suggesting Trump 'did not win in a free and fair election.'
Before diving into her theory, the Emmy Award-winning actress prepped her comments by first asking if Lemon was ready for a 'tin foil hat' moment, to which he replied that he was.
She then laid out her view, which included an Elon Musk aspect to it amid the tech CEO's war with Trump.
'Are you ready for a tin foil hat moment?' Griffin said.
'Yes,' Lemon, 59, replied.
'Okay, I'm just going to be bold and say this. And you know, you can take issue with this all you want,' she said. 'I do not think he won in a free and fair election.'
After a dramatic pause from both of them, Griffin went on.
'Yeah, I said it. I'm Kathy Griffin and I do not think Trump won in a free and fair election,' she said. 'I believe there was tampering.'
She then added that she didn't know any specifics about what may have been done, saying, '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, and arguing that past claims of stolen elections by Trump and his supporters are evidence of their own guilt.
'I know I'll take heat for this and people are going to say I'm crazy,' Griffin continued. 'But I've been called crazy before, Don.'
To her surprise, the former television host didn't push back. Instead, Lemon suggested she wasn't 'far off' and said he 'won't say he disagrees' with her shocking claim.
'I'd like to see the evidence,' Lemon added, before quickly qualifying, 'I think something was off.'
Lemon then echoed one of Griffin's earlier points. 'As you said, every accusation is a confession' - a reference to past GOP claims of election fraud, without noting how similar claims from Trump and his allies were once widely condemned as threats to democracy.
'Vote for me and you won't have to vote again anymore. And also, um, you know, as you said, every accusation is a confession,' he said.
Griffin wrapped the conversation with a wry prediction that she might face backlash.
'All right, well, let's leave our viewers with that, because we can't top that. I'm gonna get in trouble and I can't wait.'
The candid conversation comes as the president and his 'first buddy' Musk air out their dirty laundry in a very public feud which has seen both men take to social media to criticize the other.
In the past few days, Musk has grown increasingly critical of the 'big, beautiful bill' Republicans are trying to pass through Congress - arguing it reversed his work with DOGE - but on Thursday, he took aim at Trump himself.
Trump took to Truth Social Thursday afternoon after first criticizing Musk in the Oval Office.
'Elon was "wearing thin," I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!' Trump wrote.
The president then threatened to pull SpaceX and Tesla's government contracts.
'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!' Trump wrote.
Musk then taunted Trump to act.
'This just gets better and better,' he wrote. 'Go ahead, make my day …'
Trump's swipes came after Musk said the Republican would have lost the 2024 election had it not been for the world's richest man's help.
President Donald Trump (left) and Elon Musk (right) took their spectacular spat online Thursday after Trump was asked in the Oval Office about Musk's recent criticism of Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'
'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,' Musk claimed. 'Such ingratitude,' the billionaire added on X.
Musk had publicly endorsed Trump on the heels of the July 13th assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania and poured $290 million of his fortune on the Republican's campaign.
The billionaire also joined Trump on the campaign trail when he returned to the site of the Butler shooting in early October, a month before Election Day.
During the transition, Trump announced that Musk would run the newly created Department of Government Efficiency or 'DOGE,' allowing the businessman to take a chainsaw to alleged waste, fraud and abuse.
Those efforts didn't play well with the American public, with Musk formally out last week.
Now the 53-year-old South African-born billionaire is asserting that he has more staying power in US politics than the 78-year-old president.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Matteo Manassero and Ryan Fox surge into lead to set up intriguing final round at Canadian Open
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
Donald Trump gets astonishing reaction at UFC 316 amid Elon Musk row before stunning gesture by winner Merab Dvalishvili
DONALD TRUMP has made a surprise appearance at UFC 316 - but this time Elon Musk was nowhere to be seen. The President was cageside to watch Merab Dvalishvili's title scrap with Sean O'Malley on Saturday night. 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Trump was flanked by UFC kingpin Dana White in a one-man entourage as he entered the arena in Newark, New Jersey. He received loud cheers from the capacity crowd at the Prudential Center before taking his seat close to boxing icon Mike Tyson. Trump shook hands with former NFL stars Will Compton and Taylor Lewan as he settled in to watch a packed main card. Son Eric, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner were also in the audience, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The 47th President arrived in New Jersey on Friday, where he stayed at his golf course in Bedminster. Trump was on the end of a high five from Kevin Holland after his submission victory against fellow welterweight Vicente Luque. And he later shared words of encouragement to Georgian star Dvalishvili following an epic end to the main event. Elon Musk. His relationship with the world's richest man disintegrated earlier this week. The former allies battled it out on social media after disagreeing on Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill', with the President claiming Elon had "gone crazy". I'm an ex-UFC champ who has quit masturbating and smoking weed to try win my belt back at UFC 316, Musk, who is worth an estimated $330 billion, was a major contributor to Trump's presidential campaign. He reportedly spent $250 million in supporting the Republican's race for the White House last year. Musk accompanied Trump to his last UFC showing in April. The President was given a thunderous reception as he entered the arena for UFC 314 in Miami, Florida. But prior to Saturday's action, Trump indicated his working relationship with Musk was irreparable. "I'm too busy doing other things. I won an election in a landslide," he said. "I gave [Musk] a lot of breaks, long before this happened. "I gave him breaks in my first administration, and saved his life in my first administration, I have no intention of speaking to him." 10 Donald Trump and Elon Musk's complicated relationship Former president Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's relationship started rocky, but the pair have since reconciled, with Musk fully endorsing Trump and interviewing him on X Spaces on August 12. In 2022, Elon Musk and Donald Trump publicly feuded on X, then still known as Twitter. Trump called Musk a liar and "bulls**t artist" during a rally in Alaska. "Elon is not going to buy Twitter," Trump said at the time. "You know, he said the other day, 'I've never voted for a Republican.' I said, 'I didn't know that - you told me you voted for me. So he's another bulls**t artist, but he's not going to be buying it." In response to Trump's critiques, the SpaceX founder clapped back. "I don't hate the man, but it's time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset," Musk posted. Musk also went on to buy X months later. The X owner said he had previously voted mostly for Democrats since becoming a United States citizen in 2002. Musk initially backed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee. "My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist," Musk wrote on X in 2022. "I had hoped that would [be] the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far." His shift in political parties might be attributed to his plummeting relationship with President Joe Biden who didn't invite Musk to the 2021 White House electric vehicle summit. Despite their past issues, Trump and Musk's relationship took a turn in March after they met at Mar-a-Lago. Trump was also previously against electric vehicles but has since changed his stance. "I'm for electric cars," he said at a rally earlier this month. "I have to be, because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So I have no choice." Following the assassination attempt at Trump's rally in July, Musk announced his support for the former president. "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," Musk wrote on X after the shooting. During a recent press conference, Trump spoke highly of Musk. "I respect Elon a lot. He respects me," he said. "Elon, more than almost anybody I know, he loves this country. He loves the concept of this country, but like me, he says this country is in big trouble, it's in tremendous danger." Musk has been pictured at events at Mar-a-Lago and the UFC, buddying up with Trump. Trump selected Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency - a taskforce aimed at cutting bureaucracy. In the Octagon, it was a night to remember for Dvalishvili, who proved too strong for O'Malley in their main event rematch. The reigning bantamweight champion secured his first-ever UFC submission following a brutal choke-out. And he celebrated by vaulting out of the Octagon for a handshake and words with Trump. The President also shook hands with a devastated O'Malley, who was able to leave the Octagon under his own steam after the choke. "He was well trained, he was well prepared, and I knew that he was going to make changes," Dvalishvili told reporters after the third round win. "Every time I lost I made big changes and I learned from it. "But I'm getting better and better. I wasn't showing this technique [before] and I have more tools in my pocket I'm still working on, and then little by little I will show. "Now it's my time." Elsewhere on the main card, there were also wins for Kayla Harrison, Joe Pyfer, Holland, and Mario Bautista. 10
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Paralysed councillor defeated by one vote plans to stand again
A councillor who lost his seat at this year's local elections while recovering from a rare condition that left him paralysed has said he plans to have his name on the ballot in four years' Pardy had represented Sundorne and Old Heath for Labour on Shropshire Council since 2013, but lost to Reform's Mandy Duncan by a single vote in May. The election came after he collapsed at home in December with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition that affects the nervous system, leaving him unable to fully campaign. Mr Pardy said, while disappointed with the result, he was determined to stand again at the next election. "I really was disappointed, knowing I'd lost by a vote," he told the BBC. "It was a miserable night. "It was so close - I'd have preferred to lose by 201 votes, but I look forward to the next election." 'Extraordinarily frightening' It is not known what causes Guillain-Barré syndrome and it affects patients' senses and movement, as well as their breathing and heartbeat, according to the NHS."When I first contracted it, I can't remember what happened," Mr Pardy said. "I was put into an induced coma, I wasn't aware of what was happening."But he said it was "extraordinarily frightening" for his wife, a nurse of more than 40 years, who feared he could die."I was in a pretty bad way," he said, and was in hospital until March when he was moved to a rehabilitation centre in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. "I realised the election was coming up, so I turned to my Labour colleagues who worked so hard," Mr Pardy said. Meanwhile, he did what he could to campaign using social he lost his unitary council seat, Mr Pardy won his seat on Shrewsbury Town Council - again by a narrow margin of just two votes. Since then, he has almost fully recovered use of his upper body and is starting to walk with a said the support he had received had been "tremendous"."I got support from people right across the parties. "People are substituting for me on my committees and I'm waiting on a laptop so I can join remotely."The 66-year-old said getting back to his work in the community, as well as his family, is driving his recovery."As a town councillor, there's plenty to be getting on with," he said."It's going to be difficult, but if I can, I will."
