Actor and controversial figure Mel Gibson, who has a history of abusive behavior, praised President and convicted felon, Donald Trump, during his visit to assess California’s wildfire damage. Speaking with Sean Hannity, Gibson likened Trump to a father figure “taking his belt off” to discipline local officials for their wildfire response.
During a press conference with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Trump urged the city to exercise emergency powers more effectively, claiming, “You have to act decisively, just as I am.” This criticism resonated with Gibson, who has been personally affected by the wildfires, losing his Los Angeles home in the blazes. Recently named one of Trump’s “special ambassadors” to Hollywood, Gibson praised the former president for bringing attention to the crisis.
In his interview with Hannity, Gibson reflected on the challenges faced by California residents. “You meet people who’ve lost everything, and yet they stay resilient,” he said. While expressing frustration over mismanagement and budget cuts impacting firefighting efforts, Gibson acknowledged the conspiracy theories surrounding the fires but distanced himself from extreme claims. Earlier this month, he floated the controversial idea that the wildfires might have been deliberately started to clear land for profit—a theory he admitted was “insane.”
Voicing optimism about Trump’s involvement, he also added, “I’m glad he’s here. I think we’ll see some real progress now.”