At The Vault Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a renowned Hollywood actor and former WWE star, recently made a significant statement in support of former President Donald Trump. Johnson commended Trump’s strength and resilience in the wake of an assassination attempt that nearly claimed his life on July 13, 2024. The actor’s remarks were delivered during the event hosted by entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David, where he firmly denounced any form of rhetoric or behavior promoting violence against the ex-president.
In a remarkable display of resilience, Trump defiantly rose to his feet after being shot, raising his fist and passionately exclaiming “Fight!” This iconic moment has come to symbolize Trump’s 2024 campaign and stands as a unforgettable image in contemporary political history.
Trump yelling “Fight. Fight,” after getting grazed by a bullet in the ear, an inch from ending his life.
No panic. No crawling on his knees to safety. The man stands up, faces the crowd, and yells “Fight.”
Historic footage. Just incredible.
— Lomez (@L0m3z) July 13, 2024
Johnson praised Trump for his show of strength in that critical moment, stating, “Whether you love Donald or don’t love Donald, it doesn’t matter. They tried to assassinate him. There’s no room for that.”
Johnson continued, emphasizing that regardless of political views, such acts of violence are unacceptable. “Despite it being who we were in that moment, I still believe in my core that is not who we are as a country,” Johnson told the audience. His praise of Trump standing up after the attack was clear: “So him standing up at that moment, we wanted to see that.”
Apart from discussing the assassination attempt, Johnson also addressed the increasingly hostile rhetoric in American politics.
He specifically criticized Democrats for using violent language against Trump, further emphasizing his belief that political discourse should be free from violence.
“Whether you love Donald or you don’t… there’s no room for that,” Johnson remarked, referring to suggestions of violence against Trump.
🚨 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson speaks out about the assassination attempt against Donald Trump and praises his past relationship with him:
“Trump used to watch me wrestle all the time at Madison Square Garden. It was great”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 8, 2024
Johnson’s remarks at the conference represent a noteworthy development, given that the prominent Hollywood figure had previously expressed strong backing for Joe Biden during the 2020 election and had openly condemned Trump’s management of the George Floyd protests.
Nevertheless, at this particular gathering, Johnson took a more impartial position, emphasizing the importance of uniting the nation rather than deepening political rifts. His change in stance has been recognized as part of a broader pattern of celebrities tempering their censure of Trump.
At the event, Johnson reminisced about his personal experiences with Trump, including fond memories of the former president attending his wrestling matches at Madison Square Garden.
“He used to come watch me wrestle all the time. It was great,” Johnson shared, giving a glimpse into their personal interactions.
Johnson’s statements drew significant attention on social media. A tweet from @BehizyTweets on September 8, 2024, read: “BREAKING: Hollywood Superstar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson just CONDEMNED Democrats’ violent rhetoric against Trump and revealed that Trump has always been good to him.” The tweet further highlighted Johnson’s evolving political stance, which has sparked considerable discussion.
BREAKING: Hollywood Superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson just CONDEMNED Democrats' violent rhetoric against Trump and revealed that Trump has always been good to him and always showed up to watch him perform
"Trump used to watch me wrestle all the time at Madison Square Garden.… pic.twitter.com/8yxMxHjOX1
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 8, 2024
The shift in tone reflects the behavior of other public figures who have recently shown their backing for Trump.
NEW: Elton John says Trump's "Rocket Man" nickname for Kim Jong Un was "brilliant" after an interviewer appeared to try to set him up with an opportunity to slam Trump.
The comments came during an interview with Variety.
Question: "You're not a supporter of Trump. He loves your… pic.twitter.com/9usQ9bAMtq
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 8, 2024
Similar to Johnson, Elton John’s backing of Trump has contributed to the ongoing dialogue about Hollywood personalities entering the political arena by making unexpected endorsements.
Johnson’s remarks at The Vault Conference, especially his admiration for Trump’s resolve and disapproval of violent language, indicate a departure from Hollywood’s usual critical stance towards the former president.
