In the wake of dramatic tariff-driven stock market dips, Art Laffer laid out the blueprint on Tuesday for what he sees as a clear &#8220;win-win exit strategy&#8221; for President Donald Trump.
Laffer, who served as an economic adviser to the late President Ronald Reagan, explained that strategy in detail during an interview on Fox Business&#8217; &#8220;Varney &amp; Co.,&#8221; and argued that President Donald Trump&#8217;s initial plan — to use the tariffs solely as leverage for negotiating fairer trade relationships all around — was effectively an exit strategy from the start.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨Former Reagan Economic Advisor, Art Laffer, lays out his WIN-WIN Exit Strategy for Trump on Tariffs:
“I believe he can negotiate freer trade deals, get those tariffs way way down, much lower than they are now. By primarily those [countries] lowering their tariffs and us… <a href="https://t.co/3TgjgO1Cdf">pic.twitter.com/3TgjgO1Cdf</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1909626878932955511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The win-win strategy is Trump is just phenomenal at negotiating, and Stuart, what he says is extremely true: these people have far higher tariffs and non-tariff barriers and quotas than we do. It is unfair, it has been done, but what he&#8217;s done now is gotten them into a position where they&#8217;re going to lose their access to the U.S. market if they don&#8217;t redress these types of inequities that they&#8217;ve done, and Trump is the master negotiator,&#8221; Laffer told host Stuart Varney, saying that the strategy was already paying off as country after country came to the table to strike deals.
&#8220;This is exactly what he does beautifully and wonderfully, and I believe he can negotiate freer trade deals, get those tariffs way, way down, much lower than they are now,&#8221; Laffer added. &#8220;By primarily those people lowering their tariffs and us keeping ours low, or even going lower. It’ll be a win-win.&#8221;
Laffer noted that Trump had to push ahead with implementation for the threat of tariffs to be great enough to bring countries to the table, but that it already appeared to be playing out as he&#8217;d expected.
&#8220;The world will prosper, we’ll have a great economy, and the U.S. will be in perfect, beautiful shape for economic growth,&#8221; Laffer added. &#8220;The exit strategy is he doesn’t impose those tariffs, he takes those tariffs away, he even reduces our tariffs on those countries if they will eliminate their tariffs on us. That would be the exit strategy that would be a win-win win-win.&#8221;

Economist, Art Laffer

Reagan Economist Says There’s A ‘Win-Win’ ‘Exit Strategy’ For Trump Tariffs

Donald Trump

Economy

Politics

Ronald Reagan

Tariffs

A new study finds that 55% of self-identified leftists thought murdering President Donald Trump would be somewhat justifiable.
The <a href="https://networkcontagion.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Network of Contagion Research Institute (NCRI)</a> joined <a href="https://sites.rutgers.edu/lee-jussim/social-perception-lab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab</a> to conduct the study titled “Assassination Culture: How Burning Teslas and Killing Billionaires Became a Meme Aesthetic for Political Violence,” which states that an “assassination culture” appears to be “emerging within segments of the U.S. public on the extreme left, with expanding targets now including figures such as Donald Trump,” The Federalist <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2025/04/07/survey-55-of-self-identified-leftists-say-killing-trump-is-justifiable/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>.
“These attitudes are not fringe — they reflect an emergent assassination culture, grounded in far-left authoritarianism and increasingly normalized in digital discourse,” the report declares.
The report states that 55% of respondents who viewed themselves as left-of-center said the murder of Trump could be somewhat justified; 48% said the same of Elon Musk. Among all respondents, 38% said it would be somewhat justified if Trump were assassinated, while 31% said the same about Musk.
The report claims the social media platform BlueSky “plays a significant and predictive role in amplifying radical ideation.”
“NCRI also found that users are increasingly tying the ‘memification’ of (Luigi) Mangione with calls for political violence against Trump, Musk and others, ‘reflecting the growing cyber-social presence of assassination culture,'&#8221; The Federalist reported.
“This report points to disturbingly high levels of support for political violence, particularly targeting President Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” the report asserts. “Across survey responses, nearly one-third of respondents—and a significantly higher share of left-leaning respondents—expressed some degree of justification for acts of lethal violence.”
“Unless political and cultural leadership explicitly confronts and condemns this trend, NCRI assesses a growing probability of real-world escalation,” the report warns. “Given the current economic volatility and institutional distrust, the online normalization of political violence may increasingly translate into offline action.”

Donald Trump Injured During Shooting At Campaign Rally

55% Of Leftists Say They Could ‘Somewhat Justify’ A Trump Assassination: Study

assassination attempt

Executive

George W. Bush

Leftists

A screenwriter for the biopic “Reagan” starring Dennis Quaid said the film was ineligible to win Best Picture, the most prestigious prize at the Academy Awards, because it failed to meet the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ DEI requirements.
&#8220;I think the situation speaks for itself. There’s not really anger and indignation among those of us who made this film, we didn’t seriously expect to be nominated for anything by Hollywood in this cultural climate— it’s just sadness, really, what has become of the magnificent Dream Factory that once was Hollywood,&#8221; writer Howard Klausner <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/reagan-screenwriter-claims-oscars-dei-requirements-excluded-film-best-picture-consideration">told</a> Fox News Digital via email.
“Once upon a time it spoke to the heart[s] and dreams of pretty much everybody, and the leaders and luminaries of the 20th century industry intuitively seemed to ‘get’ the middle of the country as well as the cultural elite,&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;We were among 116 films that were eliminated for consideration this year,&#8221; Klausner said. &#8220;Obviously, there needs to be a conversation about this policy.&#8221;
The Academy stipulates that any Best Picture nominee must meet one out of four DEI focused concepts, which include having a main character come from an underrepresented group or have at least 30% of all actors in minor roles come from at least two underrepresented groups.
Another option is to have the main storyline centered on an underrepresented group. Alternatively, the film must utilize at least two creative leadership positions, such as casting director, cinematographer, costume designer, makeup artist, or others, come from underrepresented groups such as women, LGBTQ, or racial and ethnic groups.
A Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-daily-wire-poll-most-americans-oppose-oscars-diversity-requirements">poll</a> conducted in 2021 after the DEI requirements for Best Picture at the Oscars were announced found that most Americans opposed them.
“Reagan” most likely would have been snubbed from the Oscars even if it had met the requirements as it painted the former Republican president in a favorable light and was mostly shunned by mainstream critics. The film currently has an 18% <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reagan_2024">critic’s score</a> on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98% audience rating.
The year’s most successful documentary by a landslide, the Daily Wire+ production “Am I Racist?,” was also snubbed by The Academy even though it did meet all the requirements for the category. It didn’t even make the list of top 15 documentaries despite having massive cultural influence and making over $12 million at the box office.
The film “Anora,” the big winner at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony, won Best Picture in addition to four others, including Best Actress for the film’s star Mikey Madison. The movie tells the story of a prostitute who marries the son of a Russian oligarch.

Oscar

‘Reagan’ Screenwriter Says Film Wasn’t Eligible For Best Picture Oscar Due To DEI Requirements

'Reagan' Screenwriter Says Film Wasn't Eligible For Best Picture Oscar Due To DEI Requirements

Academy Awards

Dennis Quaid

Movies

Oscars

President Donald Trump is closing in on one month on the job, and his administration&#8217;s breakneck pace has barely slowed down since day one.
In honor of Presidents&#8217; Day, we thought we&#8217;d break Trump&#8217;s second term down by the numbers, and see how he compares to other presidents at this point in the year.
Here&#8217;s how he stacks up.
<h3>Executive Orders: Winning!</h3>
So far during his second term Trump has <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/page/11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> 68 executive orders, far more than any other president in recent history. By this time in his first term, he had signed only a dozen orders, a sign of how much more aggressive Trump intends to be this time around.
Joe Biden had signed 32 executive orders by Presidents&#8217; Day — some on racial equity and requiring COVID face masks — while Barack Obama had signed 14 executive orders. George W. Bush had signed seven, Bill Clinton six, and Ronald Reagan five.
Trump immediately took a slew of actions against illegal immigration, sending troops to the border, launching a massive deportation operation, and ordering border wall construction. He took action to end the weaponization of the federal government, and cut regulation.
He also took aim at gender ideology, banning federal funding for transgender drugs and procedures for children and prohibiting public schools from promoting gender ideology or allowing men on women&#8217;s sports teams or in their bathrooms. He also took an axe to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies.
<h3>Cabinet Nominees: Winning!</h3>
Meanwhile, Trump&#8217;s cabinet nominees are working their way through their Senate confirmations, with 16 out of 22 nominees confirmed so far. By this time in Trump&#8217;s first term, he had only nine nominees confirmed.
Biden had only six nominees confirmed at this point, while Obama had 11. Bush had all 14 of his nominees confirmed, Clinton had all but one of his 14 nominees confirmed, and Reagan had all 13 of his nominees confirmed.
On Thursday, Trump was able to get his most controversial pick, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
<h3>Job Approval: Better Than Last Time</h3>
Despite years of relentless attacks from the media, Trump&#8217;s job approval is significantly better now than at this point during his first term.
Trump&#8217;s approval rating <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/approval/donald-trump/approval-rating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sits</a> at 48.8% as of Monday, <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher</a> than the 40% he scored at this point in his first term, but below where recent Democrat presidents were.
Biden&#8217;s approval rating <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-approval-rating/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was</a> 54.8% at this point in his presidency, as he enjoyed a brief honeymoon period while Americans hoped he would quickly end the pandemic. His approval rating started plummeting that summer, just before the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. It  never recovered, at one point dipping below 36%.
Obama&#8217;s approval rating was 62% this time in his first term, George W. Bush was at 57%, Bill Clinton at 51%, and Ronald Reagan <a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/ronald-reagan-public-approval" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at</a> 55%.
<h3>Diplomacy: Winning!</h3>
Trump has also taken a forceful approach to bringing home Americans detained abroad.
Since taking office last month, Trump has <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/02/wins-come-all-day-under-president-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secured</a> the <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/5147175-hamas-releases-israeli-american-ceasefire-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">release</a> of at least 12 hostages held by Hamas terrorists, the Taliban, Russia, Venezuela, and Belarus. The administration is working closely with Israel to free hostages in Gaza.
Biden <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-donald-trump-hostages-1933435" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last year that he had secured the release of more than 70 hostages over his entire four years in office.
Trump has also begun negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to end the decades-long war that accelerated when Russia invaded Ukraine a year after Biden took office.
Trump has also already hosted three foreign leaders at the White House. Biden did not have a foreign leader at the White House <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-hosts-japans-suga-as-first-foreign-leader-at-the-white-house/2021/04/15/cd56f946-9e1a-11eb-b7a8-014b14aeb9e4_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">until</a> April, when he hosted the Japanese prime minister.
<h3>Super Bowl Attendance: Winning!</h3>
Trump was the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl, delivering him a resounding victory in this category — which is more than you can say for the Chiefs.

President Trump Signs Executive Orders At The White House

Presidents’ Day Scorecard: How’s Trump Stacking Up To His Predecessors?

Presidents' Day Scorecard: How's Trump Stacking Up To His Predecessors?

Barack Obama

Bill Clinton

George H.W. Bush

Joe Biden

Trump Administration

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> announced that his second inauguration will be moved indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to the freezing temperatures that are predicted for Washington, D.C., on Monday.
Following the news, a White House reporter shared a photo from the last inauguration to be held inside, which was when the late President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ronald-reagan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ronald Regan</a> was sworn into office for a second term in 1985 due to extremely cold weather. The image showed a packed room of politicians, dignitaries, and guests surrounding Reagan, who was standing at the podium in the middle of the room as he gave remarks during his inaugural ceremony.
The post included a <a href="https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/audiovisual/white-house-photo-collection-galleries/1985-inaugural">link to Reagan’s Presidential Library</a>, which contained tons of photos from the inauguration, including several pictures of him being sworn-in for a second term in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol standing by former first lady Nancy Reagan.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A preview of what we might expect on Monday, per photos of Reagan&#8217;s 1985 Inauguration inside a packed Rotunda: <a href="https://t.co/9Q0yVAHAG5">https://t.co/9Q0yVAHAG5</a> <a href="https://t.co/ItMIDeYsbw">pic.twitter.com/ItMIDeYsbw</a>
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) <a href="https://twitter.com/meridithmcgraw/status/1880313084205776983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
There were also photos from Regan’s Inaugural Gala held at the D.C. Convention Center, where some huge singers showed up to perform, including Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer, The Beach Boys, and Dean Martin.
The list of celebrities who were shown in the pictures was just as impressive, with stars like Zsa Zsa Gabor, Elizabeth Taylor, Charlton Heston, Tom Selleck, Jimmy Stewart, Ray Charles, and legendary comedian Don Rickles.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044212122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mp2MZNwEXBk00lKmCtOss">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
On Friday, Trump made the announcement that the Inaugural Address would be moved indoors due to the severe weather expected to hit the area, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-inauguration-to-be-moved-indoors">reported</a>.
“It is my obligation to protect the People of our Country but, before we even begin, we have to think of the Inauguration itself,” Trump said. “The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows.” 
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo-O6e3kIAbk33d8_pN9WQPMDhQnZJQqGPSWLwTl-kA6z3RiP1a"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-861629" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-2-1024x391.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-2-1024x391.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-2-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-2-768x293.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-2-1536x587.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-2-2048x782.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a> 

“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” he added. “It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).”
“We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade,” Trump continued. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In. All other events will remain the same, including the Victory Rally at Capital One Arena, on Sunday at 3 P.M. (Doors open at 1 P.M.—Please arrive early!), and all three Inaugural Balls on Monday evening.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/here-are-all-the-celebrities-reportedly-planning-to-attend-trumps-second-inauguration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here Are All The Celebrities Reportedly Planning To Attend Trump’s Second Inauguration</a>

Ronald Reagan Giving Campaign Speech

Revisiting Reagan’s 1985 Indoor Inauguration Ahead Of Trump’s Inside U.S. Capitol Rotunda

Inauguration

Severe Weather

U.S. Capitol

Washington D.C.

History has an interesting way of softening the hard edges of a past president’s term of office. Time, combined with more information coming to light as well as a more complete verdict re: the long-term impacts, good and bad, of policies will do that. As such, the placement along the scale of best to worst of those who sat in the Oval Office is always shifting.
But 39th President James Earl Carter, Jr., who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jimmy-carter-americas-39th-president-dead-at-100?topStoryPosition=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a> at age 100, is a presidency difficult to encapsulate. Peruse the media obituaries and a common theme will no doubt emerge. That he was a man of personal character and decency, the “real deal.” Indeed, his will be hailed as “the ideal former-presidency” given his image of skating above politics and keeping his focus on initiatives more beneficial to mankind, whether it be building a house for the poor or monitoring elections abroad. It will be said of him that he lived out his Christian virtues staying faithful to the same woman for 77 years.
But this does not alter the fact that his term in office from 1977 to 1981 was, to put it bluntly, a failure.
From a foreign policy standpoint, Carter attempted to affect statecraft grounded in the promotion of “human rights”. But what many in this country at the time may have seen as noble ambitions, especially coming in the aftermath of Vietnam, was read by enemies abroad as weakness arising from an almost quaint naiveté. This perceived weakness gained validation when in November 1979 anti-American Islamists overthrew the Shah of Iran and stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran — sovereign U.S. territory as per international law. 52 embassy staff were taken hostage and subsequently held in very public and humiliating captivity for 444 days.
<div id="attachment_851055" style="width: 862px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-851055" class="size-large wp-image-851055" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-852x576.jpg" alt="An American hostage being paraded before the cameras by his Iranian captors. Following the Iranian revolution over fifty American hostages were taken and only released after four hundred and forty-four days. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)" width="852" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-852x576.jpg 852w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-300x203.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616-768x519.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-2669616.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px" />MPI/Getty Images</div>
This affront to our national honor was made ever more acute when six months into the crisis, after fruitless diplomatic overtures, a mission to rescue the captive U.S. citizens resulted in a humiliating failure in the Iranian desert. The mission was scrubbed due to equipment breakdowns and eight servicemen were killed when a helicopter collided with a transport plane during the evacuation. Images of the charred bodies of our dead troops were splashed across headlines around the world, and a somber Carter took to the airwaves to accept responsibility.
The botched raid was not just a shameful blow to our national pride, it underscored a deeper sense that U.S. power was eroding, and that our best days were behind us. The military that once defeated the war machines of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan couldn’t even get out of its own way in the desert? Maybe we really were in decline? The hostages would languish for all the world to see — and the anti-U.S. forces from Moscow to Beijing to Tehran to gloat over — for another 270 hapless days.
When in 1980 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, Carter’s boycotting the Olympic games in Moscow seemed a tepid, and largely symbolic response that only served to punish our own athletes while not changing Russian actions one iota. Whether or not there was more the Carter administration could have done given the Soviets’ nuclear arsenal is a matter for round tables to discuss. At the time, however, this was viewed as yet another anemic response to flagrant enemy aggression; Americans came to believe we had a lamb in the White House when a lion was needed. And as not-so-clandestine support for the Mujahadeen throughout the Reagan era demonstrated, the U.S. did have more capacity to put the thumb on the scales in the region than Carter seemed willing to do.
The thing about Carter, however, is that not only was he unable, or unwilling to recognize certain bad actors on the world stage, he failed to understand who were the true friends to the U.S. as well. One must consider his double-standard leveled against Israel vis-à-vis the Palestinians. In particular the PLO, which by any impartial definition was a terror organization. And its leader, the vile, murderous kleptocrat Yasser Arafat, a bona fide terrorist. It was the Israelis, however, whom Carter targeted for restrictions and even grotesquely drew an analogy between their efforts to combat terrorism and the growling hounds of Bull Connor. Certainly if the recollections of respected columnist William Safire and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance are to be believed, Carter was rabidly anti-Israel. For the Israelis, it was very fortunate Carter did not win a second term.
But what about the Camp David Accords? Certainly they were a worthy effort and seem to be among the only such accords between ancient enemies that have survived more or less intact. But, as Jay Nordlinger writes in National Review, Sadat and Begin had already hammered them out prior to inviting Carter in to provide the carapace of legitimacy — and financial support — only the U.S. could offer. It is not a stretch to say that no matter who was president, Camp David would have still occurred.
<div id="attachment_851047" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-851047" class="size-large wp-image-851047" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 18: (NO U.S. TABLOID SALES) (L-R) Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin join hands after the Camp David Accords September 18, 1978 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1826042.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images</div>
At least the Carter presidency promoted the legitimate democratic process, right? Well, it did in that he even went so far as to praise Yasser Arafat’s election. Indeed, Carter was perhaps the PLO chairman’s biggest fan in the halls of the U.S. government. Although as CIA director Jim Woolsey once joked, “Arafat was essentially ’elected’ the same way Stalin was, but not nearly as democratically as Hitler, who at least had actual opponents.”
And, of course, given Carter’s wish to be remembered as the champion of the downtrodden and oppressed (although it depends on who is wearing the jackboots, as Carter seemed to have a look-the-other-way affinity for Marxist dictators whether in Beijing, Havana, or Managua) then it is natural that he would side with the weaker, if morally depraved, Hamas and Hezbollah. As his Bull Connor comparison shows, he would be quite at home today among the throngs of Intifada wannabes on the college campus who view the Arab-Israeli conflict not through the lens of morality but power. In 2014, Carter wrote of Hamas: “Only by recognizing its legitimacy as a political actor—one that represents a substantial portion of the Palestinian people—can the West begin to provide the right incentives for Hamas to lay down its weapons.” Seems a bit optimistic since October 7. Even though the body may change, the intransigent mind of the true believer may remain fixed in place,but this is the disastrous Carter naiveté in the main.
And then there was the economy.
Since the mid-1980s, even with the occasional recession (often of our own making) the U.S. has experienced a sustained economic boom that makes it hard to remember the years leading up to this age of prosperity. But when Carter was in office things were quite different. The middle class especially was hammered with inflation that surged from <a href="https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet">6.3%</a> in November 1976 when Carter was elected to a peak of <a href="https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet">13.6%</a> in June 1980. Rising interest rates saw 30-year mortgages balloon from 8.8% in November 1976 to briefly touch 18.44% in October 1981, only months into Reagan’s first term. Although there is a lingering misconception that unemployment also soared during the Carter years the data shows this is not the case. In fact, unemployment would not peak until 1983, well into Reagan’s first term. But this could be attributed to Fed policies to crush inflation with exorbitantly high rates leading to a deep recession that had a delayed effect.
I admit that such wonkish analysis gets into the weeds of economics and as the expression goes, “if you lay every economist foot-to-head around the world they couldn’t reach a consensus.” But what is certainly true is that during the Carter years, the “<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/miseryindex.asp">misery index</a>”, economist Arthur Okun’s formula he created in the 1970s to quantify the true impacts of the economy’s performance on the lives of the average American, reached an all-time high of 21.3% in May 1980. (By contrast it currently runs at 7.2%).
As such, the most powerful argument his GOP opponent Ronald Reagan would make during the 1980 presidential campaign was simply to look into the camera and ask the American people: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” The voters answered and Carter was defeated.
<div id="attachment_851051" style="width: 837px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-851051" class="size-large wp-image-851051" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-827x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK CITY - AUGUST 14: Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter attend Democratic National Convention on August 14, 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)" width="827" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-827x576.jpg 827w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-300x209.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453-768x535.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-487170453.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px" />Walter Mondale and Jimmy Carter attend Democratic National Convention on August 14, 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)</div>
The common narrative of Carter’s post-presidential years is that of the farmer who returned to his humble roots in Plains, Georgia, and lived a modest life that all ex-presidents should emulate.
Well, yes and no.
Carter’s work in founding the Carter Center, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of human rights, as well as his hands-on (literally) involvement building homes for the poor with the Habitat For Humanity project has earned him justified accolades from across the political spectrum. But at the same time he did his share of meddling in U.S. affairs, and sometimes questionably so. While in 1990 George W. Bush was cobbling together his Gulf War coalition, Carter was writing letters to the UN trying to thwart his efforts. Given that his friend Arafat sided with Saddam, one is not surprised. But considering the media’s pouncing on Trump for just weighing in (while a candidate for president no less) on the Democrats’ sham border bill, one can only see a double-standard here. There are other examples but this is the most egregious. One thing is for sure, had Trump engaged in such behavior the word “treason” would be tossed around like a football on Sunday.
And so Jimmy Carter’s story is really one compiled of two narratives. Unfortunately, being a supposedly good man (I never met him ) does not always lead to being a successful president. No man is a saint to his valet, and Carter is no exception. I have no doubt many reading this can offer up less favorable language for him. Who am I to judge? But Carter’s legacy after some five decades in politics from Georgia governor to one-term president, is starting to reveal itself, warts and all. In the end, Jimmy Carter should be remembered for leading a successful life, but a failed presidency.
* * *
Brad Schaeffer is a fund manager and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07MQJBJSD" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three books</a>. His articles have appeared on the pages of Daily Wire, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, New York Daily News, National Review, The Hill, The Federalist, The Blaze, Breitbart, Zerohedge and other outlets. You can follow him on <a href="https://x.com/bschaeffer123" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a> and <a href="https://bradschaeffer.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Substack.</a> 

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

1976 Democratic National Convention

Jimmy Carter’s Unavoidable Legacy

Jimmy Carter's Unavoidable Legacy

Afghanistan

Democrats

Inflation

Iran

Israel

Jimmy Carter

Middle East

Opinion

Presidency

Soviet Union

Yasser Arafat

I am not yet tired of winning. The winning just continues. 
I am truly enjoying the staffing of the new Trump administration so far. According to the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-selects-florida-rep-mike-waltz-as-national-security-adviser-104414fe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street Journal</a>, there are a couple of picks that have been made. One has been announced: Florida GOP Representative Mike Waltz, a Green Beret veteran, to be White House national security adviser. The Journal also reported that President-elect Trump is expected to nominate Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as Secretary of State.
President Trump is moving fast. He is staffing professionally. He&#8217;s finding people who are loyal to the Trump vision, the “peace through strength” vision.
President Trump was on this show two weeks before Election Day, and I specifically asked him about his foreign policy. He said repeatedly that peace through strength is his foreign policy.
That’s what over 75 million Americans voted for: Trump&#8217;s peace through strength.
Trump’s picks are going to do his bidding in the foreign policy realm; they will reinforce his Trump doctrine, which is, “Cross this line and I will punch you so hard in the face you will not want to do it again.” 
That is the Trump doctrine and it is a great doctrine, an excellent foreign policy doctrine, which is why we had four years with no wars. Contrary to certain popular opinions, war is only prevented by preparing for war so you don&#8217;t have to do it. That is the actual way that you prevent war. 
Submission and cowardice were tried with Joe Biden. It didn&#8217;t go particularly well.
Donald Trump does precisely the reverse. As I said on Fox Business, President Trump is the best foreign policy president of my lifetime, bar none.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2083-member-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
Marco Rubio entered with the Tea Party wave back in 2010, and then ran for president against Donald Trump in 2016.
Trump has a unique capacity to let bygones be bygones, which is why, of course, despite the fact that JD Vance said some unkind things about him back in 2016, Vance is his vice president. Rubio has proven himself to be a formidable asset on the campaign trail; he was loyal to President Trump&#8217;s vision and was an early Trump endorser in the primaries.
Not only that, Rubio has proven himself on foreign policy. He&#8217;s on the Senate Intelligence Committee, he&#8217;s great on television, and he knows all the players. In one instance, he was walking down a hallway being harassed by a pro-Hamas heckler from Code Pink.
It didn&#8217;t go well for <a href="https://x.com/yashar/status/1856171518994329616" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the heckler:</a>
<blockquote>Heckler: Senator Rubio, will you call for a ceasefire?
Rubio: No, I will not. (turning to someone accompanying the heckler) Are you filming this? I want you guys to get this. (turning back to heckler) I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on. These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes. And I hope you guys post that.
Heckler: What about the civilians killed every day?
Rubio: I blame Hamas. Hamas should stop hiding behind civilians, putting civilians in the way. Hamas knew that this was going to lead to this, so Hamas should stop building their military installations underneath hospitals.
Heckler: So you don&#8217;t care that 15,000 died. You don&#8217;t care about the babies that are being killed every day.
Rubio: Absolutely I care. I think it’s horrifying. I think it&#8217;s terrible. I think Hamas is 100% to blame. That&#8217;s what I think. Make sure you post that, please.</blockquote>
Rubio has also said that if you come to the United States on a visa and you proceed to spew anti-American, anti-Semitic nonsense, you should be gone. 
He <a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/english-espanol-senate-democrats-block-rubio-resolution-calling-on-biden-to-revoke-visas-of-hamas-sympathizers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> on the Senate floor: 
<blockquote>What I am saying is common sense. You’re a visitor. You are not even American. You’re a foreign national. You’re here because we gave you a visa to be here temporarily, and now you’re out there defending and supporting Hamas, a terrorist organization? You need to go. That’s what this resolution asks the administration to do. I hope we can get a vote on it in the Senate, so everyone will know where everyone here stands.</blockquote>
Rubio is repeating the Trump line with regard to Ukraine, which, contrary to popular opinion, is not that the United States is going to cut and run from Ukraine.
Trump does not like losing. He likes to win, as we have noticed. And what does that mean?
It doesn&#8217;t mean endless war in Ukraine. What it means is that the United States supports Ukraine sufficient to prevent a Russian invasion of Kyiv, but also looks for an off-ramp with Putin settling the lines where they are already settled. That is what the deal has looked like since 2022.
Rubio pointed out that the Biden administration had no plan in Ukraine, <a href="https://x.com/SenMarcoRubio/status/1854252665418772536" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying:</a>
<blockquote>If you ask the Biden administration, they will tell you we are funding a stalemate. I think the Ukrainians have been incredibly brave and strong in standing up to Russia. But at the end of the day, what we are funding here is a stalemate war, and it needs to be brought to a conclusion because that country is going to be set back 100 years. Now, that doesn&#8217;t mean that we celebrate what Vladimir Putin did or are excited about it. But I think there has to also be some common sense here, and that is that right now what we are funding is a stalemate that&#8217;s costing lives. It&#8217;s going to take 100 years to rebuild that poor country with everything they are facing now.</blockquote>
He is not wrong about that. And that is why President Trump is attempting to seek an offramp there.
<h3><a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH&#8217;S &#8216;AM I RACIST?&#8217; NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a></h3>
Mike Waltz has been a bulldog on national security. Waltz slammed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to his face in a hearing, saying:
<blockquote>Mr. Secretary, I have here the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, the invasion of Ukraine, the unholy alliance between Russia and China, Hamas and Hezbollah attacks on Israel, Houthi attacking international shipping, hostages in Gaza, Iran flush with cash, the reemergence of ISIS-K now six thwarted attacks in Europe, increased Chinese aggression and the collapse of our influence in central Africa … You&#8217;re going to tell the American people with this list they&#8217;re safer?</blockquote>
Peace through strength.
Trump means it.

Donald Trump Campaigns In Pennsylvania With One Week Until Election Day

More Winning! Trump Goes Full Peace Through Strength

2024 Election

Ben Shapiro

Marco Rubio

Mike Waltz

Secretary of State

Nick Searcy fondly recalls the Reagan years and even worked on a documentary detailing the 40th president’s bond with the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Gorbachev titled &#8220;America! America! God Shed His Grace on Thee.&#8221;
He still learned plenty by co-starring in “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dennis-quaids-reagan-loved-by-audiences-hated-by-critics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reagan,</a>” the late summer biopic of the conservative icon.
Dennis Quaid brings The Gipper to life in “Reagan,” now available for purchase at Amazon, iTunes and more platforms. The sweeping biopic starts with Ronald Reagan’s early days and goes through his consequential White House years.
Searcy plays James Baker in the film, Reagan’s Chief of Staff and, later, his Treasury Secretary. The “Justified” alum did his due diligence before stepping on the set, watching as many clips of Baker’s public appearances from that era.
<div id="attachment_815029" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-815029" class="size-large wp-image-815029" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BMDIyODhmNDMtMzJkYy00OTg2LWJmZDctYTEwZWNiMDI5ZjhmXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1024x427.jpg" alt="'Reagan'. MJM Entertainment. Rawhide Pictures. " width="1024" height="427" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BMDIyODhmNDMtMzJkYy00OTg2LWJmZDctYTEwZWNiMDI5ZjhmXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BMDIyODhmNDMtMzJkYy00OTg2LWJmZDctYTEwZWNiMDI5ZjhmXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-300x125.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BMDIyODhmNDMtMzJkYy00OTg2LWJmZDctYTEwZWNiMDI5ZjhmXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-768x320.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BMDIyODhmNDMtMzJkYy00OTg2LWJmZDctYTEwZWNiMDI5ZjhmXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1536x640.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BMDIyODhmNDMtMzJkYy00OTg2LWJmZDctYTEwZWNiMDI5ZjhmXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />&#8216;Reagan&#8217;. MJM Entertainment. Rawhide Pictures.</div>
Searcy learned why Reagan chose Baker in the first place. Baker had opposed Reagan in the 1980 presidential campaign, aligning with his future vice president, George H. W. Bush.
“Reagan saw him as being such a good negotiator and diplomat,” Searcy says, noting his differences with his on-screen character. “I’m a bit more of an ideologue than he was,” he adds with a chuckle.
The actor didn’t know as much about Reagan’s life before becoming the country’s 40th president. “Reagan” fills in those blanks, from his transition from Hollywood to politics to his days as president of the Screen Actors Guild.
The leader’s political ascent is the film’s focus, but “Reagan” is as much a love story as a look at one of the country’s most formidable politicians (Consider the term “Reagan Democrats” as just one example of his impact).
Penelope Ann Miller stands by Quaid’s side as Nancy Reagan, part of a Beltway power couple that changed the course of history.
You might not grasp Reagan’s role in the Cold War’s demise and “Morning in America” if you followed the Hollywood narrative, the actor maintains.
Searcy says the industry’s take on Reagan has been “mostly negative,” including a controversial 2003 Showtime miniseries blasted by the president’s defenders for several key scenes. One sequence causes sizable outcry – James Brolin’s Reagan says of gay AIDS sufferers, &#8220;They that live in sin shall die in sin.&#8221;
Reagan never uttered such a dehumanizing phrase.
“Reagan,” Searcy says, “corrects the image of Reagan that the Hollywood Left was perpetrating,” that of a “doddering old fool who wanted nuclear war.”
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-815097 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BOTE4YzdiOGQtMzNjOS00MTY3LWJhNTYtOGEzZmIxYTVkMDVkXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BOTE4YzdiOGQtMzNjOS00MTY3LWJhNTYtOGEzZmIxYTVkMDVkXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BOTE4YzdiOGQtMzNjOS00MTY3LWJhNTYtOGEzZmIxYTVkMDVkXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BOTE4YzdiOGQtMzNjOS00MTY3LWJhNTYtOGEzZmIxYTVkMDVkXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BOTE4YzdiOGQtMzNjOS00MTY3LWJhNTYtOGEzZmIxYTVkMDVkXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/MV5BOTE4YzdiOGQtMzNjOS00MTY3LWJhNTYtOGEzZmIxYTVkMDVkXkEyXkFqcGc%40._V1_.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></div>
The actor adds another reason why the film’s 2024 release matters. MAGA nation may not understand how much the Left loathed President Reagan long before a certain real estate mogul joined the political fray in 2015.
“Everyone seems to think Trump is some unique person who deserves to be hated,” he says.
Searcy is one of a handful of openly conservative actors, and he’s maintained a steady career despite the industry’s aversion to Right-leaning talent. He’s recently been joined by both Quaid and “Shazam!” star Zachary Levi. Both endorsed Trump in recent weeks, with Levi admitting the decision could be “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-zachary-levi-endorses-trump-we-are-going-to-take-back-this-country">career suicide</a>.”
Searcy thinks he knows why they’re speaking out now.
“People see the situation a little more clearly now and what’s at stake &#8230; what good is it if you hang onto your career but you lose your country,” he says.
He posits another reason for mainstream stars to pick a side.
“Hollywood is losing its position as the center of the entertainment universe,” he says, noting how many productions have fled for Canada and tax-friendly states with lower costs of living.
The Hollywood Reporter <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/judd-apatow-film-tv-production-california-1236033941/">confirmed the actor’s concerns:</a>
<blockquote>Shooting days slipped 5 percent over a three-month period from July to September to 5,048, marking the weakest quarter of 2024, and every category of scripted production lags behind five-year averages on both a per-quarter and year-to-date basis.</blockquote>
That’s not the only change allowing Right-leaning stars to speak their minds.
Searcy notes new distribution companies, like SDG Releasing which handled the Daily Wire’s “<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Am I Racist?</a>” or ShowBiz Direct distributing “Reagan” and a possible new <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-media-announces-release-truth-123000766.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAYvUMT0AIK9THCiUNaW-hryhWZR1fZKbuWoXlA6zl8n6Sx_-fI31nL_WfT9g6tdSwjBLNF7or2Iix1zMT446igZJYc6jz-3ZHSJg8v4w3jibcJAWkHgSzq7-8Hjpm7TPW6CwVDNvOTHFH-OVtViuxxd44E5lQEM_2huTJGEbnn4">streaming platform</a> from Team Trump, Truth+.
“The infrastructure is being built. We don’t have to suck up to the Hollywood Left anymore,” he says.
<div id="attachment_396198" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-396198" class="size-large wp-image-396198" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/06/Nick-Searcy_Carano-864x576.jpg" alt="Gina Carano “Terror On The Prairie” Premiere Nashville, Tennessee." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/06/Nick-Searcy_Carano-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/06/Nick-Searcy_Carano-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/06/Nick-Searcy_Carano-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/06/Nick-Searcy_Carano.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo: Dana Commandatore/ The Daily Wire</div>
For now, Searcy nimbly dances between mainstream Hollywood projects (“The Shape of Water,” Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple”) and indie fare (“Terror on the Prairie,” “The Old Way”). He also produces Right-leaning documentaries like “Capitol Punishment.”
That’s all while holding nothing back on X via @yesnicksearcy.
“I hope people see that and take courage in it,” he says, understanding he’s likely lost work for his outspoken views.
His political musings have opened up new creative doors. Consider his appearances in the last two Dinesh D’Souza films (“Police State” and “Vindicating Trump”). He also signed a deal with a Nashville-based company to direct and co-write a passion project about a gospel quartet in the 1960s.
“There is a certain gratification in following your heart and doing what you believe in and letting the chips fall where they may,” he says.
Ironically, Hollywood did have plans for a different “Reagan” biopic in recent years, but it was nothing like what Searcy and Quaid delivered with their movie. The 2016 project, hatched from a Blacklist screenplay, cast Will Ferrell as a dementia-addled leader in a satirical comedy.
<h3><a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH&#8217;S &#8216;AM I RACIST?&#8217; COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28</a></h3>
The project received a flood of <a href="https://variety.com/2016/film/news/will-ferrell-ronald-reagan-movie-controversy-1201763542/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">furious blowback</a>, including from two of Reagan’s adult children Michael Reagan and Patti Davis. That effectively shuttled any plans to bring it to the big screen.
Searcy wasn’t aware of that proposed film, but he wasn’t surprised to hear about it.
“That’s how the Left in Hollywood uses the [film] medium … it’s evolved from a storytelling medium to a way for them to attack their political opponents,” he says. “I’m waiting for a movie about how feeble Biden was.”
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://x.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Nick Searcy

Nick Searcy On ‘Reagan,’ Trump, And Hollywood 2.0

Nick Searcy On 'Reagan,' Trump, And Hollywood 2.0

actors

Conservatives

Entertainment

Hollywod

Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dennis-quaid">Dennis Quaid</a> appeared on Fox News Sunday to discuss his new historical biopic, “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ronald-reagan">Reagan</a>,” and mentioned the difference between critic ratings and audience scores.
Currently, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film</a> has an 18% critic score and a 98% audience <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reagan_2024">rating</a> on the popular review site, Rotten Tomatoes. Thanks to so many good marks, “Reagan” has also been marked as “Verified Hot” on the new Popcornmeter, meaning it earned more than 500 four-star ratings from verified ticket purchasers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: Actor Dennis Quaid discusses his new biopic about President Ronald Reagan. <a href="https://t.co/NQdLaNe88H">pic.twitter.com/NQdLaNe88H</a>
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1835324175948427567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
When the interviewer <a href="https://x.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1835324175948427567">asked</a> if Quaid got “a kick out of” the fact that there was such a discrepancy between audience and critic scores, he replied with a laugh, “We had the largest gap in cinema history between critics and audiences.”
As for those critics, he said they “not only panned it, but basically attacked it.” 
“So I guess we must be doing something right, is the way I feel,” Quaid added. 
When urging fans to see “Reagan,” the actor said, “If you were born before 1985, you’ll be able to remember how great this country was. And if you were born after 1985, you can see how great this country still can be.”
Earlier in the conversation, the celeb discussed how he took the role very seriously and initially hesitated to accept the opportunity. “I just remember a bolt of fear going up my spine when I was offered the role,” he said. “Because everybody in the world, they’re gonna know who [Reagan] is and probably have an opinion about him.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
“He was also my favorite president,” Quaid added. After visiting the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, the actor said he felt better about his ability to take on the part. “I could really feel him there,” he recalled of the late president, who died in 2004.
“That’s when I knew I had a way in, to portray his humanity… him as a person behind the public persona,” he said. 
“Reagan” is based on the 2006 book “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism” by Paul Kengor. The film, directed by Sean McNamara, stars Quaid as the former president and Penelope Ann Miller as his wife, Nancy. Academy Award winner Jon Voight has a supporting role.
It is currently in theaters nationwide.

Dennis Quaid’s ‘Reagan’ Loved By Audiences, Hated By Critics

Dennis Quaid Talks Audiences Loving 'Reagan' Despite Hate From Critics

U.S.

***WARNING: Although the historical events that took place throughout President Ronald Reagan&#8217;s life are well-documented, this article may contain spoilers with regard to the framing and overall presentation of the film.***
The political Left does not appear to want the American people to see &#8220;Reagan&#8221; — at least, not until after the 2024 presidential election is settled.
Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dennis-quaid-says-facebook-is-censoring-the-free-flow-of-ideas-throttling-reagan-movie-promos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dennis Quaid</a>, who portrays the titular president, said weeks ago that Facebook was &#8220;throttling advertising and promotion&#8221; for the film, &#8220;once again censoring the free flow of ideas, deciding what’s best for us to see and hear.&#8221;
It&#8217;s true that the American Left never liked Reagan, which could be reason enough for some to think it worth scuttling a movie about him. But after seeing the film myself — and some of the reactions to it — I realized that it goes much deeper than that. They don&#8217;t just hate Reagan the president: they hate Reagan the man. What&#8217;s more, they hate everyone who values the things Reagan stood for, the things that drove him.
Full disclosure: I was a child of the Reagan years. Born in 1979, I never really saw the havoc wrought by President Jimmy Carter&#8217;s administration. The first political speech I remember was Reagan&#8217;s address to the nation in the wake of the Challenger disaster in 1986. I watched the explosion live from my first-grade classroom and saw my teacher quietly crying at her desk — and later, at home, I watched as the president paid solemn tribute to the lives lost in that tragedy. I was eight years old when, just over a year later, I watched Reagan stand in front of the Brandenburg Gate and forcefully urge Mr. Gorbachev to &#8220;tear down this wall!&#8221;
That was all I knew of American presidents, and so that became what I expected of American presidents: someone who could speak with sincerity and solemnity to a nation in pain, but also someone who showed no fear in the face of adversaries on the world stage. I saw flickers of those same things from President George W. Bush in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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Now, the Left is terrified that people will notice those things are not to be found in Vice President Kamala Harris — and even more terrified that they just might see them in former President Donald Trump. That&#8217;s where the &#8220;Reagan&#8221; movie fits in: whether intentionally or not, it draws parallels that are difficult to ignore and even more difficult to explain away.
<h4>They don&#8217;t want a president staying strong in the face of an assassination attempt top of mind.</h4>
The movie begins with a literal &#8220;bang,&#8221; the March 30, 1981 attempt on Reagan&#8217;s life. We get Reagan&#8217;s quip to his wife, Nancy — &#8220;Honey, I forgot to duck&#8221; — and to his surgeons — &#8220;I hope you&#8217;re all Republicans.&#8221;
&#8220;Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans,&#8221; was the reply from Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat.
Trump may not have lost half of his blood volume when he was shot in the head on July 13th, as Reagan did in 1981. But Trump&#8217;s immediate response to the shooting, despite Secret Service attempts to keep him under cover, was to stand and show his supporters that he was okay. He raised his fist, shouting, &#8220;Fight! Fight! Fight!&#8221; before agents were able to usher him off the stage.
He later described the moment he knew he&#8217;d been hit, saying that at first, it felt like &#8220;a really big <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-bullet-felt-like-mosquito-bite-turning-his-head-saved-his-life-bret-baier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mosquito</a>.&#8221;
<h4>They don&#8217;t want you seeing value in an unorthodox leader who sometimes ignores his closest advisors.</h4>
Whatever else could be said about Reagan, he had his own negotiating style — whether with foreign leaders, an adversarial Congress, or his own advisors. One of the great examples of this is his Brandenburg Gate speech. His advisors warned him not to unnecessarily provoke Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, with whom he had been discussing nuclear disarmament, by demanding the destruction of the Berlin Wall.
But Reagan, with just a year left in his second term, did so anyway. Two years later, the wall came down. Two years after that, the Soviet Union was no more.
The comparison here is obvious. Trump is nothing if not unorthodox, and he often does or says things against the wishes of his advisors — sometimes with more success than others. A reminder that unorthodoxy can be both necessary and effective is not something the Left wants voters thinking about when they head to the polls.
<h4>They really don&#8217;t want you to remember what it was like to have a man of faith in the Oval Office.</h4>
In American politics, we are accustomed to politicians who go to church for the optics. The current president, for example, often talks about his deep and abiding Catholic faith — and although we do see him attending Mass, we also see him making the Sign of the Cross at an abortion rally. We see him embracing the Pope, but inviting trans-identifying influencers to attend White House events with children present.
Reagan was different, on a number of levels. He rarely attended church while he was president — not because he didn&#8217;t want to, but because he worried that attending the service would disrupt the service at best, and endanger his fellow worshipers at worst.
Still, Reagan&#8217;s faith was what planted the seed that blossomed into the president&#8217;s lifelong crusade against communism — a crusade that began when in Hollywood and came to fruition in the White House. As a young man, Reagan sat in the congregation and listened intently as a Soviet dissident explained that the first thing the communists took was their churches. For Reagan, who had always seen church as a refuge from a tumultuous home life, that was a bridge too far.
<h4>They really, REALLY don&#8217;t want you thinking about the enduring threat of socialism.</h4>
In the movie, Reagan mentions the summer he spent as a lifeguard on a river, and explains how he learned to &#8220;read the currents,&#8221; both on the surface and beneath it. Sometimes, he said of the people he rescued on that river, &#8220;I knew they were in trouble before they did.&#8221;
That ability translated to politics, giving Reagan an ability to read the currents driving both global politics and culture — and to predict how they might interact.
Trump has been less effective at this so far, but he has made it clear that he sees the threat of socialism — and that he knows it is coming, at least in part, from within the United States. In his 2019 State of the Union, Trump vowed that America would never be socialist.
&#8220;Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence — not government coercion, domination, and control. We are born free, and we will stay free,&#8221; he said.
In addition, Trump&#8217;s recent efforts to build a coalition — including former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii — may not have brought in a tidal wave of &#8220;Trump Democrats,&#8221; but they have given him a populist boost that Vice President Harris failed to match with a &#8220;bounce&#8221; from the Democratic National Convention.
For these reasons and more, the political Left clearly does not want you to see the parallels. Rolling Stone <a href="https://x.com/RollingStone/status/1832796110198280409" target="_blank" rel="noopener">panned the film</a>, calling it a &#8220;tedious biopic that shows the American political right will always value propaganda over compelling human drama.&#8221; On <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dennis-quaid-biopic-reagan-outperforms-expectations-earns-high-audience-rating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rotten Tomatoes,</a> the movie scored a dismal 20% from critics who tend to lean all the way to the Left.
The audience told a different tale, however, giving the film a positive 98%. I&#8217;m with them.

Ronald Reagan At Rancho del Cielo

Here’s Why The Left Hopes You Won’t See ‘Reagan’ — Before The Election, Anyway

Here's Why The Left Hopes You Won't See 'Reagan' — Before The Election, Anyway

Communism

Hollywood

Nancy Reagan

Readers Pass

Rotten Tomatoes

Socialism

A new biopic of President Ronald Reagan has earned nearly $10 million since premiering and clocked a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, exceeding expectations for the film’s success.
But this success was hardly a foregone conclusion. “Reagan,” directed by Sean McNamara and starring Dennis Quaid as the 40th president, hit several roadblocks on its way to the silver screen. First, the coronavirus pandemic, and then Hollywood strikes derailed production, and delayed the film’s premiere.
Looking back, McNamara sees these delays as “providential.”
“This film…was never intended to come out in an election year,” McNamara told The Daily Wire. “But now, in the wake of recent events, the film feels more urgent and relevant. Watching it today, especially with the backdrop of the recent assassination attempt and campus protests, it’s clear that history has a way of repeating itself. Reagan’s story, and his message, is one that we need to hear right now.”
“Reagan” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-new-trailer-for-reagan-movie-starring-dennis-quaid-just-released" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follows</a> the titular president from his childhood and Hollywood career through his time in politics. Told from the perspective of a fictional KGB agent, portrayed by Jon Voight, the film is based on Paul Kengor’s 2006 book, “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism.”
There was another fortuitous result of “Reagan’s” delayed premiere. Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan — who would have been deployed supporting operations including the withdrawal from Afghanistan at the time of the original premiere — were instead able to see the film and meet with McNamara and Voight at a special screening within their hangar bay.
&#8220;This was an incredible Reagan moment aboard USS Ronald Reagan,&#8221; Capt. Harry Evans III, Executive Officer of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, told The Daily Wire. &#8220;We pride ourselves in keeping President Reagan&#8217;s legacy alive by upholding the highest standards in everything we do.”
<div id="attachment_790229" style="width: 873px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-790229" class="wp-image-790229 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-863x576.webp" alt="" width="863" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-863x576.webp 863w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-300x200.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-768x513.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95.webp 999w" sizes="(max-width: 863px) 100vw, 863px" />US NAVY PHOTO</div>
Chief Operations Specialist (Select) Shaun Jacob echoed the significance of the moment, calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…to learn more about President Reagan’s history.”
The opportunity to share “Reagan” with the sailors was a personal highlight for McNamara.
&#8220;It was amazing,&#8221; he told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I voted for Reagan in my first election, and to come full circle by creating this film and sharing it with those who serve on a ship bearing his name — it was a profound experience.”
Voight, a passionate defender of Reagan’s legacy, told The Daily Wire that the 40th president “believed in the strength of the American spirit” who “led by that example.”
“Every part of our history deserves and needs heroes,” Voight said. “John Paul II was a hero of that time. Reagan was a hero. Margaret Thatcher was a hero in my eyes. All lived and led and worked together during that dark time. And what is a hero? A hero stands up against lies and deceit and evil behavior.”
<div id="attachment_790233" style="width: 873px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-790233" class="size-large wp-image-790233" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-1-863x576.webp" alt="" width="863" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-1-863x576.webp 863w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-1-300x200.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-1-768x513.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/1000w_q95-1.webp 999w" sizes="(max-width: 863px) 100vw, 863px" />US NAVY PHOTO</div>
Voight also commented on the fortuitous timing of the film’s delayed release coinciding with a period of heightened political tension.
“It’s remarkable how history seems to echo itself,” he said. “With the current political climate and recent events, including the attempted assassination of President Trump and the ongoing student protests, the film’s portrayal of Reagan’s leadership and resilience resonates deeply. It reminds us of the importance of courage and conviction in the face of adversity.”
Voight told The Daily Wire he hopes that “Reagan” will inspire a renewed sense of patriotism in a divided country.
“This movie isn’t just about looking back at Reagan’s presidency; it’s about inspiring us to look forward with hope and unity,” Voight said. “Reagan’s legacy is a testament to the power of leadership and the need for each of us to rise above our differences and work together for a better future.”
“Ronald Reagan’s story is not just about one man’s journey—it’s about the soul of America,” Voight added. “And right now, America needs to remember who we are and what we stand for.”

1000w_q95-2

‘Reagan’s’ Long And Winding Road To Success

Jon Voight

U.S. Navy

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dennis-quaid">Dennis Quaid</a>’s presidential biopic “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">Reagan</a>” outperformed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/box-office">box office</a> expectations over Labor Day weekend, landing in a close race for third place behind mega-blockbusters like “Deadpool &amp; Wolverine.”
The film, directed by Sean McNamara, stars Quaid as the former president and Penelope Ann Miller as his wife, Nancy. Academy Award winner Jon Voight has a supporting role. Mainstream critics had few good things to say about the film, but despite their negative reviews on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reagan_2024">Rotten Tomatoes</a>, the movie has a 98% audience rating on the review site’s new Popcornmeter compared to a 19% critical rating.
“Reagan” earned $7.4 million Friday through Sunday and could end the four-day weekend with $9.2 million with Monday’s earnings added in, per <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/ronald-reagan-movie-beats-box-office-expectations-1947469">Newsweek</a>.
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The biopic is based on the 2006 book “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism” by Paul Kengor. Moviegoers gushed about the film&#8217;s performances and content.
&#8220;Oscar-winning performances for Quaid, Voight, and Miller in this heartfelt biopic that pays homage to one of America&#8217;s most beloved, admired, and effective Presidents. Standing ovation in a packed theater shows how the audience really loved the subject matter and film,&#8221; one reviewer wrote.
“Excellent film! Acting superb! Wonderful biopic about a remarkable man,” another reviewer said. “Really liked how the story was told without extreme partisan position. At the end of the showing, the audience burst into applause, something I haven&#8217;t experienced in years!”
Quaid joined Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro on his “Sunday Special” series to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dennis-quaid-joins-ben-shapiro-on-sunday-special-reveals-what-led-him-to-accept-role-portraying-president-reagan-in-new-film">discuss</a> what led him to take on the role.
“Reagan was my favorite president,” the actor said. “I voted for Jimmy Carter in ’76. It was the first time I could vote, but then I voted for Reagan in ’80.”
Quaid also talked about his complexities and how he tried to portray them onscreen by truly embodying the character. 
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“That’s the thing between the impersonation and getting to the person about what makes them tick,” he said. “And there was that thing of Reagan I heard from everyone that knew him, there’s this impenetrable space that he always had that, you know, this is the ‘Great Communicator,’ quite jovial of a person, but there was this place that you couldn’t get past as well, a very private place. And I think that was always there with him from childhood, really.”
&#8220;Reagan&#8221; is currently showing in theaters nationwide.

Dennis Quaid Biopic ‘Reagan’ Outperforms Expectations, Earns High Audience Rating

Dennis Quaid Biopic 'Reagan' Outperforms Expectations, Earns Huge Audience Rating 

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