Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:44 pm
Nobody but nobody wants to perform for Donald Trump’s inauguration, let alone be seen lending legitimacy to his presidency, so typically, Trump claims they all want to come but he doesn’t want them.
The so-called "A" list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016
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The Obama’s had star-studded affairs. But no Jay Z or Beyoncé for Trump. Back in October, one Twitter wit predicted, “If Trump wins, the performers at the inauguration are going to be Loretta Lynn, Kid Rock, and Gary Busey.”
It’s not even going to be that good.
As of yesterday, as The Daily Beast reports, “So far, Donald Trump has booked a 16-year-old former America’s Got Talent singer named Jackie Evancho.”
Ouch.
Trump’s people threw out an invite to the Beach Boys – that is, Brian Wilson – but they (he) haven’t said yes.
Elton John said no. Celine Dion said no. Garth Brooks said no. Justin Timberlake said no. The list goes on. This despite reportedly being willing to pay up to six figures for somebody besides Jackie Evancho to show up.
And so, faced with an entertainment extinction-level event, Trump, as he always does in times of trouble, took to Twitter to vent.
Trump’s woes have prompted some humorous responses on social media:
Trump Inauguration performers:
-Joo Fighters
-White Sabbath
-Garbage (not the band. Actual garbage)
-The Hateful Dead
-Guns N' More Guns— Hermione Manger (@OhNoSheTwitnt) December 22, 2016
In fact, Trump seems to have been taking deadbeat Tea Party dad Joe Walsh’s advice from earlier in the evening:
I'm serious: All these petulant celebrity performers boycotting the Inauguration. Screw them Trump. Go grab regular folks to sing & dance.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 22, 2016
The idea that it is the celebrities who are being petulant is remarkable, however, as The Blaze‘s dependable idiot Tomi Lahren proved in a tweet of her own:
Who cares if Trump's inauguration has no A list performers? He didn't campaign for the rich liberal Hollywood vote anyway. Their loss!
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) December 21, 2016
Right. Attack “rich liberal Hollywood” on behalf of a self-professed billionaire. No petulance there. Or any discernible thought.
In fact, Bill O’Reilly’s paranoia and conspiracy-laden claims aside, there is a very good reason nobody wants to show up for Trump. As Dean Obeidallah writes,
“Bush’s second inaugural attracted a racially diverse list of well-known celebrities, including Gloria Estefan, Kelsey Grammer and 2003 “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard.
The difference between Bush and Trump is clear: Bush didn’t run a campaign that demonized minorities and women. Trump did.”
After eight years of treating Barack Obama like a pariah, Republicans suddenly think everybody should rally behind their president, a president who has professed his hatred of pretty much everybody but heterosexual white Christians. After insulting pretty darn near everyone – including celebrities – Trump apparently thinks so too.
Trump attacked celebrities because they shunned him for Hillary Clinton. He attacked a good number of them by name and his supporters attacked many others on his behalf.
Yes. His life is approaching satire.
Hrafnkell Haraldsson, a social liberal with leanings toward centrist politics has degrees in history and philosophy. His interests include, besides history and philosophy, human rights issues, freedom of choice, religion, and the precarious dichotomy of freedom of speech and intolerance. He brings a slightly different perspective to his writing, being that he is neither a follower of an Abrahamic faith nor an atheist but a polytheist, a modern-day Heathen who follows the customs and traditions of his Norse ancestors. He maintains his own blog, A Heathen’s Day, which deals with Heathen and Pagan matters, and Mos Maiorum Foundation www.mosmaiorum.org, dedicated to ethnic religion. He has also contributed to NewsJunkiePost, GodsOwnParty and Pagan+Politics.
