He’s one of the most controversial and divisive leaders the world has ever seen, but US President Donald Trump retains a massive base of supporters, celebrities among them.
Trump came to power in 2016, beating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who many predicted would romp home in the US Presidential Election, especially following the bombshell release of the “Access Hollywood” video, in which Trump can be heard making misogynist comments and appearing to condone sexual abuse in 2005.
But Trump, a real estate mogul who soared to fame as the linchpin of reality TV show The Apprentice, pioneered an election campaign that appealed to America’s working class, particularly those who felt left behind under the Obama administration’s eight-year tenure.
Since entering the Oval Office, Trump has often divided the US nation and the world beyond, with his controversial policies including the “Muslim travel ban” and a proposal for a Mexican border wall.
But amid all the outcry and claims of racism and sexism, Trump’s supporters stand tall, and among them are many celebrities. Trump also often aligns himself with celebrities, including Kim Kardashian who gave a speech at the White House in 2019, advocating for criminal justice reform.
Here are ten of Trump’s most famous supporters.
10. Scott Baio
The Happy Days star and 80s heart-throb is a long-time Republican and has been a boisterous fan of Trump since the 2016 US Presidential election campaign. “We need Donald Trump to fix this [the USA],” Baio, 59, said in 2016. “Is Donald Trump a messiah? No, he’s just a man, a man who wants to give back to his country, America, the country that has given him everything … So, of course, let’s make America great again, but let’s make America, America again.”
9. James Woods
Oscar-winning actor James Woods, 72, was already a prominent Republican before he got behind Trump. “He works for free, endures the most vile abuse from the lowest mob on earth, is attacked by crooked politicians, yet here he is, working to support his fellow patriots,” the Virgin Suicides and Justice League Action star has said of the President. “Donald Trump literally saved this nation from a debacle beyond imagination.”
8. Teresa Giudice
Before she was a Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Teresa Giudice, 47, was a former contestant on Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. She showed her loyalty to Trump in 2016, when she told Andy Cohen she would be voting for him on election day. “I think he’s amazing,” she said. “I think he’ll make a great president.”
7. John Ratzenberger
He found fame in the Cheers bar playing a postman, and as a US citizen he regularly delivers praise upon Trump. Ratzenberger, who is also the voice of piggybank Hamm in the Toy Story movies, voted for Trump because the real estate mogul is a “builder”. “I want us to become self-reliant again,” Ratzenberger, 72, told Fox News.
6. Stephen Baldwin
Hollywood star Stephen Baldwin, 53, regularly embarrasses his daughter with his love of the US commander-in-chief. In an interview with the UK’s Times newspaper, Hailey Baldwin, 22, said: “We didn’t see eye to eye. It was a very big issue for me, but my dad’s still my dad.” Baldwin, whose elder brother Alec, 61, has lampooned Trump several times on Saturday Night Live, was one of the first vocal Hollywood supporters of a Trump presidency. “I think he really wants what’s best for everybody,” the Christian told Variety. “Unfortunately, he’s jammed into a presidency that may be the most difficult four years for any president almost ever to figure out how to bring people together.”
5. Mike Tyson
The former world champion boxer endorsed Trump for US President way back in 2015. “We’re really good friends,” Mike Tyson, a muslim, told The Daily Beast. “Most of my successful and best fights were at Trump’s hotels. We’re the same guy – a thrust for power, a drive for power. Whatever field we’re in, we need power in that field. That’s just who we are.” Tyson, 53, also hired Trump as his advisor in the ‘80s and Trump came out in defence of the boxer following his 1992 rape conviction.
4. Clint Eastwood
Who wouldn’t want Dirty Harry on their side? Actor, Oscar-winning filmmaker and Republican voter Clint Eastwood has long been a fan of Donald Trump. “He’s onto something, because secretly everybody’s getting tired of political correctness, kissing up,” the Unforgiven star told Esquire in 2016. “That’s the kiss-ass generation we’re in right now. Everybody’s walking on eggshells. We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff. When I grew up, those things weren’t called racist.”
3. Kelsey Grammer
The Frasier star is well-known for being a staunch and proud Republican and has revealed that in 2016 he voted for Trump. The next year, Grammer, 64, who first rose to fame in Cheers, told BBC Radio: “I think [President Trump] is doing what he said he was going to do.” In an interview with PBS in 2019, Grammer praised Trump again, adding, “I don’t think Washington did us any favours for the last 50, 60 years, I think they’ve all been sort of the same party, the same bunch of clowns, the same bunch of really unpleasant people. And I don’t think they’ve been helping anybody but themselves.”
2. Jon Voight
What would Angelina Jolie think? Her dad, the Oscar-winning iconic actor Jon Voight, 80, endorsed Trump for President in 2016. In a statement to Breitbart, the Midnnight Cowboy and Heat actor said: “It is true that we Americans have been part of Donald Trump’s life for many years. We were part of his weddings. We were there to see all his children’s births. We were part of his great shows: Miss Universe, The Apprentice — and all know, without a doubt, his life has been an open book. I, Jon Voight, can say, without hesitation, that Donald is funny, playful, and colorful, but most of all, he is honest. When he decided to run for president, I know he did it with a true conviction to bring this country back to prosperity.”
1. Roseanne Barr
Before the 2018 reboot of her popular TV show Roseanne was spectacularly axed over a racist tweet, Trump called Roseanne Barr to congratulate her on the show’s massive ratings. In the show, Roseanne’s character was a supporter of Trump. “I have always attempted to portray a realistic portrait of American working class people, and it was working class people who elected Trump,” said Barr, 66. In real life, Barr herself has used Twitter to rally behind the President. “I voted Trump 2 shake up the status quo & the staid establishment,” Barr tweeted.
