Former CNN anchor Don Lemon returned to the network's TV Wednesday, discussing a recent interview he did with billionaire Elon Musk and revealing why a deal for Lemon to host a show on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, didn't work out.
“First of all, he’s not my boss. X was only content,” Lemon said during an appearance on Erin Burnett’s show. “They were a distribution partner; he never had any editorial control of the show.”
Lemon shared clips from his interview with Musk, saying he plans to release the full interview on Monday.
During their conversation, Lemon questioned Musk about recent reports of the billionaire meeting former President Trump, as his campaign seeks to strengthen his finances ahead of a potential rematch with President Biden.
“I was at a breakfast at a friend’s place, and Donald Trump came by,” Musk told Lemon. “That’s it.”
After Lemon inquired about their discussion, Musk laughed and said, “Let’s just say he did most of the talking.”
Musk stated that Trump did not request money from him and refuted the suggestion that he was considering lending money to help cover Trump’s legal expenses, as posed by Lemon.
Lemon revealed earlier on Wednesday that shortly after recording the interview with Musk, the agreement for Lemon to host a show on the platform was terminated by Musk.
Several outlets reported Wednesday that Lemon did not have a signed contract with Musk’s team to host “The Don Lemon Show.”
“During the course of that interview, I never raised my voice. I told him I thought this was important for people to hear,” Lemon told Burnett. “He says this is a public square for all. Maybe we’re learning that a public square should not be privately owned.”
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Musk wrote of his conversation with the host, “Instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity.”
Lemon was fired by CNN last spring following a slew of controversies, including comments the host made about former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s age.
The cable news veteran stated that he intends to release his full interview with Musk on YouTube and X next Monday.
Musk stated, “Lemon/Zucker is, of course, welcome to build their viewership on this platform along with everyone else.”
