Donald Trump’s primary response to the California wildfires has been to blame and taunt the state’s Democratic leaders on Truth Social. But is there a way he can be even more monstrous to the Americans suffering in Southern California right now? Turns out there is!
On Thursday afternoon, Trump announced on social media that he is appointing Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone to be “Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California”:
There is no reason to think that Trump genuinely wants to help the U.S. film industry, which has rejected and mocked him since he entered politics.
First, this is not a real position. Trump doesn’t even use a consistent title for Voight, Gibson, and Stallone, calling them both “Special Ambassadors” and “Special Envoys.” And it’s not clear what it means to be Trump’s “eyes and ears” in the film industry, unless he’s trying to conjure fears about another Red Scare.
Second, there are the three people Trump selected for this made-up role. Generally, his ambassadors haven’t been selected for their diplomatic skills; his picks have been about brazenly rewarding allies (e.g., Kimberly Guilfoyle and various billionaire pals) or simple retribution (e.g., Ivanka’s ex-con father-in-law, Charles Kushner). Stallone and Voight fall into the former category: They are among the few open Trump supporters in Hollywood. Gibson is in the latter category; including him seems like a thumb in the eye to the industry. For years, he was virtually shut out in Hollywood for making racist and antisemitic comments. Though he’s working again, he remains incredibly controversial. After losing his home in the Los Angeles wildfires last week, he spread conspiracy theories on Fox News and The Joe Rogan Experience, suggesting that people may have been “commissioned” to start the devastating fires.
Finally, there’s the underlying idea that Trump needs to appoint ambassadors to Hollywood, like it’s not part of the United States. He underscores this by calling it a “great but very troubled place.” Referring to Hollywood as a location, not just an industry, and describing it as “troubled” make it impossible not to think of the wildfires.
Maybe Trump had this dig planned for months, but dropping it while so many people who work in Hollywood — not just major celebrities, but the many average Americans who are employed by the film industry — have lost their homes and possibly loved ones is truly appalling.
More Tremendous Content
- Coca-Cola Gifting Trump a Fancy Bottle Is Peak Spineless Groveling
- Et Tu, Village People?: Disco Group to Play Trump Inauguration
- Why Does Trump Want Greenland? His Imperialistic Threats, Explained.
