By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In the lead-up to the presidential election, former President Donald Trump has criticised actress Julia Roberts for her endorsement of his political opponent, Kamala Harris. Roberts narrated a Vote Common Good advertisement, urging women to vote for Harris regardless of their partners’ preferences. Trump voiced his disapproval during an appearance on Fox & Friends, calling the ad “stupid” and arguing that it doesn’t reflect how couples typically behave. The commercial features two women casting their votes for Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, while their husbands look on. The backlash from Trump occurs as Harris concludes a $370 million media campaign.
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Donald Trump’s disappointment in Julia Roberts for narrating a Kamala Harris ad is stirring the pot, and the reactions to it are as varied as they are entertaining. It’s astounding to think that someone with Trump’s history believes he has the standing to feel let down by anyone, let alone a well-respected actress. Julia Roberts is a global icon, and her work transcends political lines. To imagine that she should be beholden to Trump’s opinion, or anyone’s for that matter, is both absurd and a testament to the culture of celebrity worship that permeates American society.
The very fact that Trump feels “so disappointed” speaks volumes about the inflated sense of self-importance that seems to envelop him. To think that a major Hollywood star should pause and consider his feelings before endorsing a political message is hilariously misguided. Knowing this, I can’t help but chuckle at the implications: does he truly believe the political landscape shifts or bends around his whims? Julia Roberts’ career isn’t contingent upon appeasing the likes of him; she is not a pawn in his game, nor should any artist be.
What’s more fascinating is the reaction from his supporters. Many of them echo his disappointment, revealing an underlying misogyny and a tendency to attack women who stand up for their beliefs. It’s troubling, yet illuminating, to witness how quickly they resort to denigrating a successful woman simply because she chooses to narrate an ad that doesn’t favor their agenda. Instead of engaging with the substance of the ad or the political implications, their responses devolve into juvenile name-calling and outrage that lacks any real depth.
How deliciously ironic it is as well—this vehemence originates from a man who has proven to be anything but a model citizen. What Trump and his fans fail to see is that for Julia Roberts, and many like her, the actual stakes are far beyond Trump’s universe of delusion and entitlement. It’s not just about one’s echoes of disappointment; it’s about real issues like equity, justice, and representation. Many artists recognize the privilege they hold and feel a responsibility to use that platform for advocacy. Trump’s ego-driven reactions simply illustrate that he stands on the opposite side, often dismantling those very ideals.
There’s comedy in the chaos of all this, illustrated well by the backlash. It radiates frustration from those who feel threatened by a woman’s ability to speak her mind and effect real change through the power of her voice. They are so preoccupied with trying to undermine her status that they forget they are playing right into the narrative of why those artists feel empowered to engage in political discourse in the first place. Disappointment or not, Julia Roberts’s decision to lend her voice to this ad speaks volumes about her values.
Trump’s sentiment of disappointment in Roberts could hardly matter less. For every side-eye he casts at a woman like her, there are countless others who rally around her. They understand that true strength lies in standing firmly for one’s beliefs. Roberts doesn’t need to change course based on the whims of someone who operates in complete contradiction to the concepts of respect and equality. She is a beacon for those of us who are tired of the status quo and fighting tirelessly against it, whether through film or in our everyday lives.
Ultimately, no amount of disappointment from Trump can take away from the impact Julia Roberts has had—and continues to have—on the world. It’s a refreshing reminder that despite the chaos surrounding us, there are those unafraid to use their voices to challenge the norm and uplift their communities. In a landscape riddled with self-serving politics, perhaps the real lesson here is that disappointment, when directed toward someone advocating for positive change, is a badge of honor, not a point of shame.