Former CNN host Don Lemon joined a group of anti-Trump activists who entered Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Capitol Hill office on Tuesday, September 2, demanding to meet with the Georgia representative and leading to a confrontation with her staff before being removed from the building.
Video footage showed several protesters, led by Carlos Alvarez, founder of American Opposition, entering Greene’s office with Lemon documenting the exchange. Alvarez told a staffer at the front desk that the group wanted to ensure Greene knew they needed to get President Donald Trump impeached and removed from office.
Alvarez referenced ongoing protests and the Tesla boycott, claiming his organization was among those that started such demonstrations. Lemon stood beside him, holding a microphone throughout the encounter, recording the interaction as it unfolded.
A Greene staffer entered the room and instructed the group to stop recording, explaining this was a private office. When Alvarez pushed back, saying they were there to see the congresswoman, the staffer responded that the visitors were not residents of Greene’s district and had not requested a formal meeting.
The confrontation escalated when Alvarez claimed that recording in the office was protected by First Amendment rights. The staffer firmly rejected this assertion, particularly regarding photographing Greene’s private office space. Alvarez then stated that Greene’s staff worked for the public, prompting the staffer to clarify that they worked specifically for the people of northwest Georgia.
The staffer emphasized that proper procedures existed for scheduling meetings and that “bombarding her office and recording our staff is not one of them.” Alvarez defended their actions as civil, while Lemon interjected that they were American citizens with rights to speak with Greene.
The staffer subsequently ushered the group out of the office and closed the door. Following their removal, some members of the group made obscene gestures at the closed door, with at least one person heard calling the staff members “Nazis.”
Greene later accused Lemon and the group of harassing her staff members. The incident occurred as Lemon, who was terminated from CNN in 2023, now hosts programming on YouTube and has been involved in various political activism efforts.
This confrontation represents part of a broader pattern of protests and disruptions targeting congressional offices. Greene has previously stated she receives what she considers to be among the highest number of death threats of any member of Congress, at times claiming to receive more threats than even the Speaker of the House.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between progressive activists and conservative Republican members of Congress. Security protocols for congressional offices have become increasingly important as political divisions have intensified, with formal meeting request procedures designed to manage constituent access while maintaining office security.
Lemon’s participation in the protest marks a continuation of his political activism following his departure from CNN. The former cable news host has been involved in various opposition activities targeting the Trump administration and its congressional supporters.
The American Opposition group, led by Alvarez, has organized multiple demonstrations and boycott efforts as part of broader resistance activities. Their approach of directly entering congressional offices represents a more confrontational tactic compared to traditional protest methods conducted in public spaces outside government buildings.
Capitol Hill security procedures require visitors to follow established protocols when seeking meetings with congressional representatives. These procedures typically involve advance scheduling through official channels rather than unannounced visits to legislative offices.
The recording of the encounter and its subsequent circulation on social media platforms demonstrates how such confrontations are often designed to generate public attention and media coverage. The footage showed the full exchange from entry through removal, providing documentation of the interaction between activists and congressional staff.
The congresswoman has previously dealt with various forms of protest and opposition activities at her offices and public events.
