Why Actor Michael Rapaport Changed His Mind About Donald Trump
New York, Thursday, 9 July 2026.
After years of harsh criticism, actor Michael Rapaport stopped insulting Donald Trump, citing Trump’s crucial role in securing the release of Israeli hostages following the October 7 attacks.
The Catalyst: October 7 and the Hostage Crisis
The primary driver behind Michael Rapaport’s dramatic shift in political perspective was the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the ensuing hostage crisis [1][2][3][4]. Rapaport, a 56-year-old actor and comedian, actively engaged with the situation by traveling to Israel nine times between January 2024 and July 2026 [1][2][3]. During these visits, he met directly with the families of the hostages, an experience that deeply enlightened his worldview and reshaped his political priorities toward securing their release and protecting Israel’s right to exist [1][2][4].
Reassessing Leadership in a Global Crisis
In analyzing the political landscape, Rapaport concluded that Donald Trump represented the most viable path to bringing the hostages home [1][2][3]. He characterized the choice as being between what he termed a “cadaver Joe Biden,” Kamala Harris, and Trump, asserting that Trump was the only leader capable of resolving the prolonged crisis [1][2][3]. This realization prompted him to cease his long-standing practice of publicly insulting the president, stating that the singular goal of saving the hostages and ensuring Israel’s survival was enough to justify a more respectful tone [1][2][3].
Moving Past Years of Vitriol and Misinformation
This shift marks a stark contrast to Rapaport’s previous behavior during Trump’s first term, during which he frequently targeted the president on social media with derogatory terms such as “fat pig,” “piece of s—,” “scumbag,” and “pig” [4]. Furthermore, Rapaport admitted to previously spreading misinformation regarding Trump’s April 2017 comments following the Charlottesville protests, acknowledging that the media narrative claiming Trump called neo-Nazis “very fine people” was false [4]. He conceded that his past anti-Trump rhetoric was fueled by being politically “uninformed” and “misinformed,” emphasizing the importance of publicly admitting when one has spoken out of turn [1][2][3][4].
A New Focus: The 2029 New York City Mayoral Race
While Rapaport remains critical of Trump’s policies and still finds the president “infuriating” [4], his political evolution has also spurred personal ambitions [1][2]. In May 2026, Rapaport announced his plans to run for Mayor of New York City in the upcoming 2029 election, aiming to challenge Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, whom he has openly criticized [1][2]. He intends to approach the campaign with a “New York City street fight mentality,” pledging to remain in the race unless a more qualified candidate emerges who is capable of defeating Mamdani [1][2][4].