Vince Vaugh is addressing the backlash he faced earlier this year when he was spotted chatting with President Donald Trump. The "Wedding Crashers" star was slammed after footage emerged showing him sitting speaking with Trump at the 2020 College Football Playoff national championships. In an interview with Los Angeles Times published Friday, Vaugh said the entire ordeal was blown out of proportion.
"In my career I’ve met a lot of politicians who I’ve always been cordial to; I’ve met Nancy Pelosi and was cordial to her as well," the actor explained, adding that he also greeted Democrat strategist James Carville at the same football game. That conversation sparked no uproar.
"It was the only time I’ve ever met him," Vaughn said of Trump. "We said hello. He was very personable. I didn’t get into policies."
After the incident, many called for Vaughn to be canceled, but the 50-year-old star put it down to a heightened sense of sensitivity.
"I think people are more charged than ever about these things," he continued. "But I don’t think most people take that stuff as seriously as the small percentage that’s making noise about it. I was raised with the idea that you could have different likes and beliefs and you should respect and defend that in other people, not shout it down. The people you disagree with the most, you should stand up for their right to do that."
In the controversial video clip, Vaughn is seen sitting with Trump and first lady Melania Trump. He then stands up and shakes Trump's hand. The footage led people to believe Vaughn was a firm Trump supporter, but the actor explained that the only candidate he had ever supported was former Libertarian presidential nominee Ron Paul.
"I don’t have a party that I support and endorse. 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," Vaugh said, adding, "That’s as much as I’ll get into it at this point."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.