The entertainment industry is making a quiet but undeniable shift: Hollywood is warming up to Donald Trump.
Once persona non grata among Tinseltown elites, Trump is now drawing collaboration from some of the biggest power players in entertainment. And if you take a closer look at Variety’s latest article on the topic, it’s clear that not everyone in the media is happy about it.
Donald Trump sits down at an interview with Sean Hannity – YouTube, Fox News
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According to Variety, Trump’s second inauguration wasn’t just another political event — it was a Hollywood-adjacent spectacle.
TikTok sponsored a $75,000 bash in D.C., complete with performances from rapper Waka Flocka Flame and appearances by conservative figures like Ben Shapiro. The article paints a picture of an industry reluctantly embracing Trump for pragmatic reasons, but the subtext is hard to miss: Variety isn’t thrilled.
Hollywood’s Pragmatism Over Ideology
While Variety clearly laments this shift, the reality is that Hollywood is simply following the money. The pandemic, ongoing strikes, and runaway production costs have hit the entertainment industry hard. Trump’s proposed policies, like tariffs on imports, could bring filming back to U.S. hubs like Los Angeles and Atlanta, making him an attractive figure to executives desperate to save their bottom lines.
Hulk Hogan speaks at the RNC in support of Donald Trump – YouTube, Bloomberg Television
As one indie producer told Variety, it’s “refreshing to hear the office of the president focus on how we can get the movie business back on track — and back in Los Angeles.” This economic reality is pushing studios and executives to engage with Trump, even as they face backlash from more ideologically driven corners of the industry.
But there’s another layer to this story that Variety conveniently ignores.
The American audience.
A majority of Americans voted for Trump, making him the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. This suggests that his values resonate with more people than Hollywood elites or the media want to admit. That stark reality creates a disconnect between the progressive causes championed by the Hollywood access media and the actual business of entertainment, which relies on appealing to a broad audience to stay afloat.
Donald Trump speaks at his inauguration in 2017 – YouTube, ABC News
The industry’s decision-makers are well aware that Trump’s appeal aligns more closely with Middle America, which remains a critical market for box office sales and streaming subscriptions.
‘Variety’s’ Discomfort Is Palpable
What stands out most in Variety’s piece is its barely concealed frustration.
The article highlights the backlash faced by Trump-supporting celebrities like Carrie Underwood, Sylvester Stallone, and Jon Voight. It points to Amazon’s $40 million deal for a Melania Trump documentary as evidence of Hollywood “falling in line” with Trump. Even TikTok’s involvement in inauguration festivities is seemingly framed as a betrayal, with former Disney executive Zenia Mucha lobbying Trump on behalf of the platform.
The tone throughout the piece suggests that Variety sees this as a compromise of values.
Sylvester Stallone as Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi in Tulsa King (2022), Paramount Plus
One anonymous executive is quoted saying, “Hollywood’s lost its nerve,” a sentiment that Variety seems eager to amplify.
But it raises a larger question: whose values is Hollywood really supposed to reflect? The elite, progressive ideologies pushed by media outlets like Variety, or the majority of Americans who represent the paying audience? There’s a growing tension between Hollywood’s access media, which has long focused on identity politics and virtue signaling, and the economic reality of appealing to mainstream consumers who prioritize escapism and entertainment over political messaging.
The Hypocrisy of Hollywood’s Critics
What Variety fails to acknowledge is that Hollywood has always been pragmatic. This is the same industry that courted both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, pivoting with ease based on who was in power. It’s the same industry that championed progressive causes while quietly filming in countries with questionable human rights records (looking at you, Disney!).
The only difference now is that the shift is happening in favor of a polarizing figure like Trump, making it harder for some on the left to stomach.
A protestor screams as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States via ITV News Facebook
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For the access media, it’s easier to critique the “betrayal” of values than to confront the hard truth: the majority of Americans aren’t interested in Hollywood’s progressive ideology. They want movies and shows that entertain, not lectures.
Hollywood’s renewed pragmatism isn’t just about economic survival—it’s a recognition of its audience’s values and priorities, something the media refuses to admit.
The Rise of The New Media
As Hollywood’s access media grapples with this new era of pragmatism, another player is quietly reshaping the narrative: independent content creators and reporters.
In an age where traditional outlets like Variety cling to ideological purity, the public is increasingly turning to independent voices for honest, unfiltered perspectives.
These creators, like WDWPro, Nerdrotic, The Critical Drinker, and ValliantRenegade, often operate on platforms like YouTube, Substack, and independent websites. They’re increasingly filling the void left by legacy media as trust in the establishment erodes more with every tone deaf shill Hollywood article, like the one we’re discussing today.
Gary Buechler via Nerdrotic YouTube
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Unlike establishment outlets, which are often accused of towing industry lines or pandering to corporate interests, new media figures are building trust through transparency and direct engagement with their audiences. They don’t just report on the news; they break it down, challenge the narratives, and invite debate. In doing so, they’ve managed to connect with viewers and readers who feel alienated by the performative outrage and selective reporting that dominate legacy media.
This shift in trust marks a seismic change in how entertainment and politics are covered. While outlets like Variety lament Hollywood’s alignment with Trump, New Media is providing a platform for audiences to explore the “why” behind these decisions — free from the elitist lens of the establishment press.
Donald Trump speaks at a rally the night before being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America – YouTube, Washington Post
As Hollywood’s power players embrace pragmatism and adapt to survive, it seems the media itself might need to do the same. The question now isn’t whether Hollywood will work with Trump; it’s whether outlets like Variety can work with the truth their audiences demand.
Do you think outlets like Variety are out of touch with the audiences? Do you think Hollywood will work with the Trump Administration? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
Blessed be God, who saved the life of our President.
When God is for us, who can be against us?
“I don’t like Donald Trump, but the alternative was much worse for my entertainment, which is the only thing that interests me about the United States.”
Trump is a miracle, he’s changing the world more than any other president in recent history.