Remember the outrage over when actor Vince Vaughn talked and shook hands with Democratic strategist James Carville? Neither do we.
But at the same January college football national championship game that Vaughn did that, there was a viral firestorm over a video of Vaughn sitting and talking to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump before shaking the president’s hand.
After 9 million views and 10 months later, Vaughn addressed it for the first time while talking by Zoom to the Los Angeles Times to promote his new movie, “Freaky.”
“In my career, I’ve met a lot of politicians who I’ve always been cordial to,” said Vaughn. “I’ve met Nancy Pelosi and was cordial to her as well. I think people are more charged than ever about these things. But I don’t think most people take that stuff as seriously as the small percentage that’s making noise about it.”
Vaughn said he was raised to respect and defend the right to have differing opinions.
While many assumed Vaughn was a Trump supporter because of the video, he is no election crasher. He shared in the late October interview that he only has supported one presidential candidate—Libertarian Ron Paul.
“In fact, for me, sometimes it’s difficult to find a candidate that you feel is philosophically consistent and not just going along with whoever is funding their particular party,” Vaughn said.
What should be appreciated in the viral video is that Vaughn’s comedic timing is good even when he’s not trying.
With the first lady sitting between them, Vaughn and Trump reached out to shake just as Neil Diamond sings the words “touching hands” during the Mercedes-Benz Superdome’s blaring rendition of “Sweet Caroline.”
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