If the 2024 presidential election is determined by A-list endorsers, then Donald Trump would possibly need to begin writing his concession speech now. A rundown of celebrities who’ve publicly chosen a candidate reads just like the entrance row of the Oscars in relation to assist for Democratic nominee and present vp Kamala Harris. In the meantime, Trump’s greatest (up to now) Hollywood supporter introduced himself on Saturday, however even that endorsement felt lukewarm and hole.
Zachary Levi’s politics have threatened to overshadow his work as an actor for years, given his apparent skepticism of life-saving vaccines, his criticism of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and his loud and proud support of credibly accused sexual assailant (amongst different points) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. In the meantime, his most up-to-date flip as DC superhero Shazam was an enormous bomb on the field workplace, a failure Levi appeared responsible on fellow DC hero Dwayne Johnson and the studio’s advertising staff.
When RFK, Jr.—who Levi described as “the perfect we’ve had in a very long time”—bowed out of the presidential race, the Chuck actor clearly discovered himself at a crossroads. In 2020, for instance, he tweeted, “I’m no fan or supporter of Trump, and I discover his habits to be vulgar, callous, narcissistic, and missing empathy.”
However in a time when JD Vance can name Donald Trump “America’s Hitler” after which grow to be his vice-presidential decide, all bets are apparently off. And with RFK, Jr. out of the race, Levi joined (checks notes) Roseanne Barr, Hulk Hogan, and fellow-flop-starring Jon Voight in supporting the convicted fraudster.
However in contrast to these different supporters, Levi’s endorsement was half-hearted, at finest. Issued whereas hosting a Saturday event that includes RFK, Jr and former U.S. rep Tulsi Gabbard, it was hardly a full-throated embrace.
Video from the event, a Dearborn, Michigan rally billed as part of “Workforce Trump’s Reclaim America Tour,” tells the story. Jokingly referring to himself as “Shazam,” Levi mentioned, “For a very long time, I used to be like, ‘Man, I actually need to discover a politician that represents all the issues that I need and I need to see in a presidential candidate.’ And this 12 months, I discovered Bobby Kennedy, and I believed, ‘Man, this man is it. He’s the actual deal.’ And in an ideal world, no matter that might appear to be, maybe I might have voted for Bobby.”
“However we don’t dwell in an ideal world,” Levi continued. “Actually, we dwell in a really damaged one, we dwell in a rustic that has been hijacked by lots of people who need to take this place manner off the cliff. And we need to cease that, proper?”
“We’re right here to make it possible for we’re going to take again this nation, we’re going to make it nice once more, we’re going to make it wholesome once more,” Levi mentioned from the stage. “And so, I stand with Bobby, and I stand with Tulsi, and I stand with everybody else who’s standing with President Trump.”
“As a result of I do consider, of the 2 decisions that we have now, and we solely have two, Donald Trump, President Trump is the person that may get us there. And he’s gonna get us there as a result of he’s gonna have the backing and the assist and the knowledge and the information and the combat that exists in Robert Kennedy Jr. and former consultant Tulsi Gabbard.”
Earlier than he started his remarks, Levi entered to Bachman Turner Overdrive’s 1973 track “Takin’ Care Of Enterprise.” However for his subsequent look, organizers would possibly think about one other traditional track from that period: Stephen Stills’ folk-rock traditional, “Love the One You’re With.” As Trump’s fan base continues to dwindle, its that track—not the BTO hit or different songs the Trump marketing campaign has used—that seem to finest describe those that are nonetheless talking on the previous president’s behalf.
