Dennis Quaid and Donald Trump: Where the Parent Trap Star Really Stands

Actors usually tiptoe around politics because it gets messy fast. Dennis Quaid has tried that route, but he has also made it very clear where he stands right now: he is backing Donald Trump, and he is not hedging.

The 2024 rally where Quaid spelled it out

In 2024, Quaid showed up at a Trump campaign rally in Coachella, California and took the mic. He told the crowd it was decision time, and he did not sugarcoat it:

"I am here today to tell you that it is time to pick a side. Are we going to be a nation that stands for the Constitution? Or for TikTok? Are we going to be a nation of law and order? Or wide open borders? Which is it? Because it is time to pick a side."

He also drew a line between past fights and what he sees happening now, then went one step further and called Trump his favorite president of the 21st century. Yes, he went there.

This did not come out of nowhere

Quaid has been inching in this direction for a while. Back during the height of the pandemic, the 'Parent Trap' star praised Trump for keeping the economy on its feet and getting aid out to people. Earlier this year, he said voting for Trump "made sense" to him. He was not ready to go all-in before, but he says what changed his mind was what he calls the weaponization of the justice system.

'You do not have to like him' is the point he keeps making

Quaid argues you do not have to be a fan of Trump personally to vote for him. When someone asked if he actually likes Trump, Quaid said he respects what Trump has done with the office, especially in how he deals with other world leaders.

Still calling himself Independent

On 'The Joe Rogan Experience', Quaid, now 71, said he has been an Independent his whole life and ran through the mix of political leaders he has supported over the years. Even as he endorses Trump, he talks about the pendulum of politics and culture and what he thinks the country needs right now. He also made a broader point: Republicans and Democrats need each other, the system is built on compromise, and that is how anything actually moves forward.

• 2020 pandemic era: Quaid praises Trump for the economy and relief efforts.
• Early 2024: Says voting for Trump "made sense" after what he describes as the justice system being weaponized.
• 2024 rally in Coachella: Delivers the 'pick a side' speech and calls Trump his favorite president of this century.
• Ongoing: Says you do not have to like Trump to vote for him; emphasizes foreign policy respect.
• Identity: Lifelong Independent who believes in political compromise, even while endorsing Trump.

One more family note

If you are wondering whether this is just Dennis: his brother, Randy Quaid, is also firmly in the pro-Trump camp.