When it comes to Hollywood’s raging case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, few actors have gone off the deep end quite like Michael Rapaport. The man has practically built a second career out of hurling vulgar tirades at President Donald Trump, dripping with the kind of unhinged hatred that’s become standard fare among the entertainment elite.
If there were an Oscar for Most Profane Political Meltdown, Rapaport would be clearing space on his shelf.
I mean, Rapaport almost makes Robert De Niro look like a Trump supporter — and that’s saying something. I’m joking, of course, but let’s be honest: Rapaport’s record of vile, profanity-laced attacks on all things Trump has been nothing short of legendary among the Hollywood left.
That was then.
This is now — the aftermath of President Trump’s historic, Trump-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a major diplomatic breakthrough that kicked off the first phase of his 20-point peace plan for the Middle East. And suddenly, even some of Trump’s most rabid critics — Rapaport included — are being forced to grapple with the uncomfortable truth that Trump just accomplished what the global elites couldn’t.
In a nutshell, Rapaport, a staunch advocate for Israel, has done on 180 on Trump, saying “My views have changed” — and even more. After first talking about meeting several freed hostages and relatives of those murdered by Hamas, Rapaport noted:
Knowing in my heart, in my guts, in my soul that that’s why I was able to meet them, it’s because of Trump … I can’t make fun of him anymore. I can make fun in a fun, loving way, but I can’t be disrespectful knowing what I know … and I’m good with that. He deserves my respect, and he deserves Jews’ respect. I’m proud that I’ve changed.
Whoa — seriously, who is this guy, and what did he do with Michael Rapaport?
The once–Trump-bashing actor-comedian is now singing a very different tune, and he’s not stopping there. Rapaport also took aim at the sorry state of Hollywood under Trump’s second term:
It’s very, very, very, very one-sided. I would accept [actors saying] ‘bring the hostages home and free Palestine.’ We’ve had two Oscars, two Grammys, two Emmys [ceremonies] in the two years, and not one person said it … These are my peers. It’s been very frustrating and disappointing.
This is a group that will scream and yell about everything … If there had been one, just one African-American from, let’s say, Miami, the entire perspective on this whole thing would be changed … or five college students from, say, Spellman or Clark or traditionally black universities.
Again, ss I mentioned earlier, Rapaport is a strong supporter of Israel:
I’m a proud Jewish man, of course, I’m gonna stand up and fight vigorously. What I’ve dealt with, the sacrifices I’ve made … doesn’t compare to people whose lives have been lost … the agony and the trauma and the terror [hostage families have] faced.
I’m built and ready for every little bit of ramifications … I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve been blessed to have the means and the forum and platform … I’ve been to Israel seven times. I’ve heard so many stories … I’ve gained far more than I’ve lost.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, how so many people — on both sides of the political aisle — treat admitting they were wrong as some kind of personal defeat. Instead of owning up, they twist themselves into pretzels of denial, pretending reality doesn’t exist. Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve always seen acknowledging mistakes as a sign of strength, not weakness.
In that sense, credit where it’s due — hats off to Michael Rapaport. It takes guts to admit you misjudged someone, especially when it means defying the Hollywood echo chamber.
That said, does Rapaport’s change of heart mean more celebrities will finally come out of the TDS-riddled closet and admit Trump isn’t the monster they made him out to be?
Don’t bet on it. Hollywood runs on left-wing groupthink, and for most of them, reality will never outshine ideology.