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Andy Gregory
May 26, 2019
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Twitter
Jon Voight, Oscar-winning star of classic films like Deliverance, Midnight Cowboy and The Rainmaker, and father of Angelina Jolie, has long been at odds with most of Hollywood over his Republican views.
But yesterday he really upped the ante.
In a bizarre video titled “To my fellow Americans”, which at first glance looks as though Mr Voight himself is running for president, he declared:
Let us stand up for this truth, that president Trump is the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.
To my fellow Americans. Part 1. https://t.co/srw4zXCRKJ— Jon Voight (@Jon Voight) 1558747085
@jonvoight Let us stand up for this truth, you are an old, privileged, decrepit, fossil of a white man, from a bygo… https://t.co/oKG1Qf1pse— Bishop Talbert Swan (@Bishop Talbert Swan) 1558802241
@jonvoight Abe Lincoln right now.... https://t.co/zmjlyIHdCt— CLINT (@CLINT) 1558793339
It's not the first time that the actor has voiced support for Trump.
During the 2016 election campaign he defended the presidential hopeful's infamous casual boast about sexual assault in a series of tweets that ranged from depressing to worrying.
@jonvoight https://t.co/cAv3tFK9zv— did I happen to mention...? (@did I happen to mention...?) 1475970767
He continued by comparing Trump's boast to Robert de Niro's denouncements of the billionaire - which, just to re-clarify, included zero endorsements of sexual assault.
Showing a worrying lack of understanding of how words work, Voight claimed:
Trump's words did not hurt anyone.
In his new speech, some have interpreted Voight's own choice of words as having some worrying undertones.
Jon Voight defending the current Republican Party and saying "we have a moral code of duty, passed on from Presiden… https://t.co/XrxeujbIJQ— Amee Vanderpool (@Amee Vanderpool) 1558790566
Some felt there might be other factors at play behind the scenes.
@jonvoight How much do you get paid for this BS? https://t.co/JAMQBCB6t6— Bjørg (@Bjørg) 1558861828
@jonvoight Straight from a meeting with Trump, taking dictation, you get in front of a camera and spew this shit. “… https://t.co/nU2ftsRBKK— Phil Hendrie (@Phil Hendrie) 1558802682
@jonvoight Sir, blink twice in a row if you're being held at gunpoint and being forced to do this video.— Ralph Hartman (@Ralph Hartman) 1558796994
With Twitter's co-founder claiming Trump is a "master" of the site this week, some questioned the platform's decision making.
Twitter won’t take down a doctored video of Speaker Pelosi that was posted to suggest she has failing health but th… https://t.co/H5hYc0cLbQ— Adam Parkhomenko (@Adam Parkhomenko) 1558794931
However, it did make some in Hollywood re-evaluate their own opinions.
Now I understand why Republicans like to discredit actors and our political views. “Stay in your lane, Jon!” “Has… https://t.co/M9d1eL3c4Y— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa Milano) 1558818781
Mainly, the bizarre video led to calls for Voight to be "cancelled", although some brutally pointed out those closer to the actor had got there first.
I’m not suprised about Jon Voight... there was a clear reason why Angelina Jolie cancelled her own father and changed her name.— Its Steph tho ✨ (@Its Steph tho ✨) 1558788670
Well I guess Jon Voight is cancelled. Now I hate him as much as his family does. https://t.co/4PsUcZ8hIs— 🅳🅾🆁🅻🅸🅽🅶 (@🅳🅾🆁🅻🅸🅽🅶) 1558815927
@DaftLimmy If he can get a third cancellation he’ll get a chance to defeat the final boss - Morrissey— Mike Johnston (@Mike Johnston) 1558811055
While Mr Voight was a Democrat in his youth (which he later blamed on - you guessed it - "cultural Marxism"), some felt the signs had been there since 1997 at least.
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