Actor Dennis Quaid has publicly endorsed Donald Trump’s bid to return to the White House, a move that has raised eyebrows considering Quaid’s previous closeness with George W. Bush. During a recent rally in California’s Coachella Valley, Quaid expressed his preference for Trump over Bush, stating, “I think I’m going to vote for [Trump] in the next election,” referring to instances he perceived as the “weaponization of our justice system” against the former president.
Quaid remarked on Trump’s extensive legal scrutiny, stating, “Trump is probably the most investigated person in the history of the world… and they haven’t really been able to get him on anything.” However, this assertion was challenged shortly after when a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records.
During his conversation with Piers Morgan, Quaid was questioned about whether liking Trump was necessary for voting for him, to which he replied, “No.” He admitted to feeling discomfort with some of Trump’s comments during past campaigns but clarified, “People might call him an asshole… But he’s my asshole.”
At the rally, Quaid elevated Trump to the status of “My favorite president of the 21st century,” ahead of figures like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Quaid, who has portrayed these presidents on screen, previously praised Obama as “the Superman for everyone.” Contrasting that sentiment, he stated, “Ronald Reagan came along and said, no, we’re not a nation in decline. We’re going there. And we followed him. The same with Trump.”
This claim is puzzling given Trump’s own remarks about American decline, where he has referred to the nation as “a failed nation.” Meanwhile, current vice-president Kamala Harris argues that the country is on the verge of a positive transformation.
In his speech, Quaid called for Americans to “pick a side,” suggesting a choice between constitutional values and the social media platform TikTok. This statement raised questions about his clarity on Trump’s past comments advocating for a “termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” contrasting with Trump’s recent support for TikTok amid ongoing discussions about its regulation.
Quaid’s endorsement generates confusion regarding his rhetoric and the policies he appears to support, leading many to wonder whether he fully comprehends the implications of his political alignment.