Don Lemon's presidential ambitions met with skepticism, amusement from his former CNN colleagues

Left-wing podcaster and former CNN host claims to be considering a run for president. Count his former colleagues as skeptical at best.

Lemon, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump who started his own show after being fired by CNN in 2023, recently said there is a "65, 70%" chance hell launch a White House bid. Lemon, who has no political experience, has said he would make a better president than Trump and talked up his appeal to voters.

A CNN staffer knocked Lemon's apparent presidential ambitions.

"Doesnt someone, according to Don Lemon, have to be in their 'prime' to run for president? That would certainly rule Don out," they told Fox News Digital.

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The staffer was referring to the infamous 2023 moment when Lemon found himself in hot water for suggesting then-Republican presidential candidate was past her "prime" at age 51, enraging female colleagues and sparking public fury. Lemon, who is now 60 and almost six years older than Haley, later apologized for the comments.

"I love it. Bring it on," another CNN staffer told Fox News Digital of Lemon's possible bid.

"It would be fun if he ran. Little bit less boring than the standard 18-people on-stage process that were about to watch unfold," they said. "Although, I doubt he actually does it."

Lemon's profile was raised earlier this year when slapped with a felony indictment for livestreaming a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Minnesota church. He has insisted he was working as a journalist and was not part of the group that harassed churchgoers, but Lemon ramped up his criticism of Trump since the incident.

"Don does very much want to have influence and feel his contributions matter. Would seem other ways make more sense because running is merely raising money, which is f---ing miserable, and you cant get anywhere," Lemons former colleague said.

"I think political office is probably appealing to him. I think a presidential run is obviously not serious, but he could engage in it as a way to launchpad into another office," they continued. "If Don has the itch, there are ways to scratch it that are more serious. It takes a single-minded focus, and he cant be a media personality and do it at the same time."

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A third CNN staffer said Lemon has done a good job of remaining "relevant" since being fired.

"Its the most open nomination process in 30+ years for the Dems, I think you gotta take it seriously," the second staffer told . "Im not saying he is serious, but I am saying hes said it enough that I cant dismiss it."

Lemon was fired by then-CNN CEO Chris Licht in 2023 and has since launched his own media company. Lemon's tenure at CNN came to a bumpy end, as he had recently been pushed out of his primetime hosting gig to an ill-fated morning show stint with co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. His squabbles on the show and the flap over his infamous Haley comments .

He wouldn't be the first CNNer to jump into politics. On-air analyst John Avlon launched a New York congressional bid as a Democrat in 2024 but .

Lemon suggested earlier this year he didnt have political ambitions but said people had been askin