Trump targets Debra Messing after actress calls for exposing Hollywood donors
President Trump on Sunday targeted actress Debra Messing after she called for publicizing the list of donors who are reportedly attending a Beverly Hills fundraiser where the president is slated to appear.
Trump claimed that the “Will and Grace” star had “thanked” him after his NBC show, “The Apprentice,” became a big hit, adding that “times have changed!”
“I have not forgotten that when it was announced that I was going to do ‘The Apprentice,’ and when it then became a big hit, helping NBC’s failed lineup greatly, @DebraMessing came up to me at an Upfront & profusely thanked me, even calling me ‘Sir,'” Trump said on Twitter. “How times have changed!”
I have not forgotten that when it was announced that I was going to do The Apprentice, and when it then became a big hit, helping NBC’s failed lineup greatly, @DebraMessing came up to me at an Upfront & profusely thanked me, even calling me “Sir.” How times have changed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2019
{mosads}The tweet came a day after Messing voiced outrage over the Hollywood fundraiser, which is scheduled during the week of the Emmy Awards.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported last week that Trump would be attending the fundraiser on Sept. 17 as part of his 2020 reelection efforts. The fundraiser is being organized by Trump Victory, a joint committee that raises money for Trump’s 2020 campaign, and the Republican National Committee (RNC). It is unclear where the Hollywood fundraiser for Trump is being held. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the fundraiser is being hosted by the RNC’s chairwoman, Ronna Romney McDaniel; the RNC’s co-chairman, Tommy Hicks Jr.; Trump reelection campaign manager Brad Parscale; and Trump Victory’s finance chairman, Todd Ricketts. Donors must pay at least a $1,000 to attend the event.
“Please print a list of all attendees please,” Messing tweeted. “The public has a right to know.”
Please print a list of all attendees please. The public has a right to know. https://t.co/YV4UoxrPHI
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) August 31, 2019
Her former co-star Eric McCormack echoed the sentiment, tweeting that the Hollywood Reporter should “kindly report on everyone attending this event, so the rest of us can be clear about who we don’t wanna work with. Thx.”
Hey, @THR, kindly report on everyone attending this event, so the rest of us can be clear about who we don’t wanna work with. Thx. https://t.co/7W3xPG3bI2
— Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack) August 30, 2019
Following Trump’s tweet, Messing urged the president to take action on gun legislation, quipping that she’d call him “sir” if he did so.
“Now that I know I have your attention, please read this thread — a PARTIAL list of souls lost to preventable, devastating gun violence,” Messing said in a tweet that cited some of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.
“America wants universal background checks. The majority of Americans want assault weapons ban. Take Action and I’ll call you Sir.”
Now that I know I have your attention @realDonaldTrump, please read this thread— a PARTIAL list of souls lost to preventable,devastating gun violence. America wants universal background checks. The majority of Americans want assault weapons ban. Take Action and I’ll call you Sir. https://t.co/BnaS9zgNps
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) September 1, 2019
The actress also urged Trump in a separate tweet put his attention toward matters such as the mass shooting in west Texas that left at least seven people dead on Saturday.
Trump has repeatedly targeted high-profile actors and actresses during his two-plus years in the White House. He claimed in August that Hollywood was “racist” and that “the kind of movies they’re putting out is actually very dangerous for our country.”
UPDATED 1:10 p.m.
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