Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Spicer Claims Trump Won't Watch The Oscars, History Tells Us Otherwise
Donald and Melania (with an uncomfortable-looking Helena Bonham Carter) at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in 2011. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
()
By Annie Lloyd
In a further sign of disconnect between Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Cheeto-In-Chief Trump, Spicer claimed on Wednesday that 45 won’t be watching the Oscars on Sunday night. When a reporter asked about the Awards, and why actors and actresses tend to make speeches like Meryl Streep’s at the Golden Globes, Spicer responded with, “I don’t know. It’s a free country.”
Yes, Spicer, America is very free.
He goes on to explain that Hollywood is “generally far to the left,” (the same Hollywood through which Trump gained international fame and recognition), so their thoughts do not represent those of the rest of the country.
Support for LAist comes from
Spicer says Trump probably won't be watching the Oscars https://t.co/2ZORRSCflF pic.twitter.com/fgZRmAMwUD
— Colin Jones (@colinjones) February 22, 2017
In perhaps a coded reminder to the First Lady about her duties at the White House, he also tells the reporter that the Governors Ball is the same night as the Oscars (it's the First Lady's task to organize the ball). Spicer predicted that Mr. Melania will spend his evening focusing on entertaining our country’s Governors, rather than whatever unfolds at the Academy Awards.
Spicer may think this is a convincing response, but here’s the thing: Trump is obsessed with the Oscars. There is no way he’ll be ignoring what happens on Sunday night.
In 2013, for instance, Trump believed people were logging onto Twitter for the express purpose of seeing his live-tweets of the Oscars.
By popular demand, I will be tweeting on the very tainted Academy Awards tonight!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2013
And in 2014, he got a little political by asking if Obama was in charge of the Awards because they reminded him of the ObamaCare website.
Was President Obama in charge of this years Academy Awards - they remind me of the ObamaCare website! #Oscars.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2014
Support for LAist comes from
In 2015, his solution to the “boring” Oscars was to bring him on as host in 2016.
This, of course, didn’t happen, but now Trump is hosting something that's happening simultaneously as the Oscars. One might predict that he'll use the ball's success (if indeed it is a success) as a barometer of respect. His Ball will likely be the Greatest Governors Ball Ever Hosted, whereas the Oscars will likely be a Joke. And perhaps we can expect his rage-tweets to escalate to a further level of narcissism and resentment.He believes the Oscars are bad and corrupt, yet feels a moral obligation to watch them regardless. Now that the Oscars will likely have a direct response to his status as President (if the other award shows this year are any indication), Trump’s compulsive need to comment and deride the Awards will rear its head. The machinations of Hollywood are Trump’s Achilles Heel. The industry exists for the sake of visibility, and fame and celebrity are the bread and butter of an attention-seeking narcissist, so Trump sees Hollywood as both his ultimate aspiration and his mortal enemy. Until they give him what he wants, Trump will go to the grave negging the entertainment industry.
Annie Lloyd is a writer who runs a blog and newsletter about the history and future of this city, and you can often find her rambling about the L.A. dream over larb at Night Market Song.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist