In yet another tone-deaf attempt to stir the pot, former CNN host Don Lemon found himself sparring with Will John, a former professional soccer player turned TikTok influencer, in a street interview gone hilariously awry. The topic? Wild speculation from left-wing circles about Elon Musk’s potential influence in Donald Trump’s incoming administration—a notion so absurd it left John, and likely anyone with common sense, scratching their heads.
Lemon’s opening salvo was as baffling as it was loaded: “Who is the real president-elect, you think?” he asked John, attempting to bait him into a discussion about baseless Democratic claims. Without missing a beat, John responded with what should have been an obvious answer: “Donald Trump won, I believe.”
John, who boasts an impressive following of over one million YouTube subscribers and 300,000 TikTok followers, wasn’t about to let Lemon steer the narrative unchecked. As Lemon delved deeper into the left’s conspiracy theory, alleging that Democrats are calling Musk “President Musk” while relegating Trump to a subordinate role, John interrupted with incredulity: “What? What? What—wait a second, no. No one said that.”
Lemon, clearly unprepared for the pushback, doubled down. “Really? Have you not watched or paid attention to the news?” he fired back. John’s retort was both cutting and reflective of the sentiments of many Americans: “Absolutely not. I’m paying attention to what I’m doing during my day, so I can try and get a better life and get ahead.”
John didn’t stop there, delivering a scathing critique of mainstream media. “We don’t trust any of these. The common man doesn’t trust any of this,” he said, naming outlets he views as untrustworthy. “No one trusts the government. No one trusts the common news,” he continued, echoing a growing distrust in legacy media.
Lemon, perhaps realizing he’d met his match, conceded, “I can’t disagree with you,” as John made a powerful point about the rise of independent media. “Independent news—we are the ones that own the news now. People trust me. They don’t trust MSNBC because I care, and I’m actually one of them,” John declared.
The exchange underscores a broader cultural shift. With trust in mainstream media at historic lows, more Americans are turning to independent voices who they feel represent their values and concerns. John’s unapologetic defense of the “common man” resonates deeply in a country where working families feel increasingly ignored by coastal elites and media gatekeepers.
This isn’t Lemon’s first controversial moment, either. In a separate diatribe, he lashed out at *Time* magazine for naming Trump as Person of the Year, lamenting, “Just because you are elected President of the United States does not mean that you should be Person of the Year.” His frustration seemed more rooted in political bias than any substantive critique, prompting many to question whether Lemon is more interested in grandstanding than genuine journalism.
For now, it’s clear who won this verbal match. While Lemon tried to peddle left-wing talking points, John’s grounded perspective struck a chord with everyday Americans tired of media spin. As the viral exchange makes its rounds online, it’s another reminder that the “common man” is no longer silent—and they’re not buying what the mainstream media is selling.
