Here’s what happened.
Attorney General Pam Bondi pushed back Saturday against claims that recent arrests tied to a church disruption violated free speech rights, saying the Trump administration is enforcing long-standing federal law to protect Americans’ right to worship safely.
Bondi addressed the controversy during an appearance on My View with Lara Trump, following the arrest of journalist Don Lemon and several anti-ICE activists accused of disrupting a Sunday church service in Minnesota.
“When we say ‘God bless America,’ we mean it,” Bondi said. “We are going to protect this country, and if anyone carries out these actions inside a house of worship, we will find you, indict you, and prosecute you.”
The arrests have drawn criticism from activists who argue the demonstrators were exercising their First Amendment rights. Bondi rejected that claim, pointing instead to federal statutes designed to protect religious institutions and congregants.
She specifically cited the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, which prohibits intimidation, threats, and coordinated disruptions at houses of worship.
“You also have a First Amendment right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said. “On a Sunday morning, parishioners believed they could be facing a mass shooting. They had no idea what was happening.”
Bondi emphasized that protecting churches, synagogues, and mosques remains a priority under President Donald Trump’s administration.
“People have the right to go to church, synagogue, or mosque — wherever they worship — and feel safe while they are there,” she said. “Under this administration, we are committed to making sure that happens.”
According to Bondi, the incident was a coordinated effort timed to coincide with families arriving for worship. She said activists traveled together, entered the church quietly, and sat among congregants before the disruption began.
“These parishioners walked in not realizing they had already been infiltrated,” Bondi said. “People were sitting beside them in the pews while they were simply there to worship.”
Bondi said the group later entered the sanctuary from multiple directions, chanting loudly during the service and triggering panic inside the building. Some parents were temporarily prevented from reaching their children in Sunday school, while others were unable to exit immediately.
“Some women ran out side doors and slipped on ice,” Bondi said. “One woman was injured badly enough that she had to be hospitalized.”
Bondi also stated that video footage shows Don Lemon blocking a parishioner from leaving the church while confronting the pastor.
“That conduct is illegal,” she said.
Lemon, a former CNN host who now describes himself as an independent journalist, was charged Friday in Los Angeles. Authorities allege he conspired to violate constitutional rights and committed violations under the federal FACE Act.
Lemon has denied wrongdoing, stating that he attended the event in a journalistic capacity. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, he said, “I’m just here photographing. I’m not part of the group. I’m a journalist.”
Supporters argue the arrest raises concerns about press freedom, while the Trump administration maintains the case centers on enforcing the law and protecting Americans’ ability to worship without disruption.
As Bondi made clear, free speech does not extend to actions that interfere with religious services or endanger families inside places of worship.