Vandalism of Donald Trump's Hollywood Star Sparks Controversy

On January 8, 2023, President Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was vandalized with four derogatory terms: "terrorist, pedophile, traitor, tyrant." The image of the defaced star gained significant traction on social media, particularly after being shared by a Reddit user known as u/yourstruly_chris, who described the moment as surprising and somewhat amusing. The user noted that attempts appeared to have been made to obscure previous graffiti, including a faded "DIE" inscription. The photo has since garnered over 109,000 upvotes on Reddit.

Newsweek

Trump's star, awarded in 2007, has faced multiple acts of vandalism since he entered politics. Notable incidents include a 2016 event where an artist named Plastic Jesus placed prison bars around the star, and a 2018 incident where a man used a pickaxe to destroy it. The Hollywood Historic Trust has reported spending over $20,000 on repairs to the star, which has been vandalized several times, reflecting the contentious nature of Trump's public persona.

Newsweek

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has consistently rejected calls to remove Trump’s star, maintaining that once a star is installed, it becomes part of Hollywood's historical fabric. Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, stated, "Any star, which is vandalized or destroyed, no matter which honoree it belongs to, will be replaced by the Hollywood Historic Trust." This stance applies to all stars, including those of individuals facing serious allegations, such as Bill Cosby.

Newsweek

Critics of Trump have pointed to the vandalism as a reflection of public sentiment towards his administration, particularly in light of controversies surrounding immigration policies and other political issues. The Reddit user who shared the image expressed that the slurs were likely connected to Trump's actions and public perception, citing issues related to ICE and other scandals.

Newsweek

While the Reddit post indicated that the vandalism occurred on January 8, a TikTok video posted shortly thereafter showed the slurs still visible, suggesting that the defacement had not yet been removed. This raises questions about the timeline of the incident and the response from authorities or the Hollywood Historic Trust.

Newsweek

• “It was the remarks written about Trump that caused me to take the picture.” — u/yourstruly_chris, Reddit User

Newsweek

• “The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which celebrates the professional contributions of the inductees.” — Leron Gubler, President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Newsweek

This incident continues to highlight the polarized views surrounding Donald Trump and the ongoing debate over public monuments and their meanings in contemporary society.

Newsweek