“Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl responded to leftist criticism after attending a charity event at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last weekend.
The 47-year-old actress was quick to defend her appearance at the Wine, Women &amp; Shoes annual fundraiser benefitting the no-kill animal shelter Big Dog Ranch Rescue. Heigl said her attendance was about &#8220;animal advocacy&#8221; and had nothing to do with politics.
It was Heigl’s first public appearance since 2024.
“Animals don’t vote,&#8221; Heigl said in a <a href="https://www.justjared.com/2026/03/11/katherine-heigl-is-directly-replying-to-many-instagram-comments-slamming-her-appearance-at-dog-rescue-event-at-mar-a-lago/">statement</a> to JustJared. &#8220;The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter. They are completely at the mercy of us, and they have no voice of their own.&#8221;
&#8220;This event was about animal advocacy — something that has always been deeply personal to me,&#8221; the actress continued. &#8220;Anyone who knows me knows that protecting animals is one of my greatest passions. My mother, Nancy, and I have spent years advocating for animals through the Jason Heigl Foundation. As a society, we should all come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent. This should not be a polarizing issue.&#8221;
Heigl also directly responded to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVwdl3Dkbbw/?hl=en">Instagram comments</a> from people who couldn’t believe she’d dare to visit a Trump property for any reason.
After she posted &#8220;animals don&#8217;t vote,&#8221; one commenter complained, &#8220;No, but if they did they would have better judgement than you!&#8221;
Heigl responded, &#8220;Just curious…what do you do that really matters…do you think comments on an instagram post matter to animals who have had humans pour gasoline on them and set them on fire? Who have had humans vote conservative or liberal but have been left to starve and suffer? Seriously…I’m very curious what you truly think matters to the voiceless and innocent…actions or just instagram posturing?&#8221;
The commenter went on: &#8220;There are so many amazing rescues to align yourself with that aren’t hosting events there — and so many ways to get involved that aren’t putting on a dress and drinking cocktails masquerading as helping.&#8221; 
&#8220;How are you so sure about that…have you been to any?&#8221; Heigl replied. &#8220;Have you donated a significant part of your income to anything? Anything you claim to care so much about? Have you done anything more than comment on what someone else is doing or not doing to your standard? Just curious…&#8221;
Other celebrities attending included famed dog trainer Cesar Millan, Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host who now serves as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and the charity&#8217;s co-founder, Lara Trump, per <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/03/11/lara-trump-katherine-heigl-jeanine-pirro-big-dog-ranch-rescue-mar-a-lago/89098185007/">USA Today</a>.
Heigl has not been openly political in the past. When asked about the presidential election in 2008, she said, “I don’t do politics. It’s not my forum, man, you know? I get annoyed.”

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Katherine Heigl Defends Herself For Attending Mar-a-Lago Charity Event