Vince Vaughn is going viral after a video showed him chatting with President Donald Trump at the national championship game Monday.
The video, shared by former Daily Beast writer Timothy Burke, began trending on Twitter Tuesday. It showed Vaughn sitting in box seats next to first lady Melania Trump and the president. In the 31-second clip, Vaughn and the president spoke before shaking hands and then waving goodbye. Both the Trumps and Vaughn smiled when the actor walked away.
Audio of the interaction was not captured. USA TODAY has reached out to Vaughn’s representatives for more information about the conversation.
I'm very sorry to have to share this video with you. All of it, every part of it. pic.twitter.com/ELMbDHZbZq
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 14, 2020
The moment happened at the game that saw No. 1 LSU beat No. 3 Clemson 42-25.
Vaughn became the source of much discussion online with discourse largely stemming from conservative voices seeking to show support for the actor.
“Vince Vaughn is one of my favorites,” tweeted former National Rifle Association Dana Loesch. “Back off the canceling, stage five clingers.”
In the past, Vaughn has voiced support for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and former presidential candidate Ron Paul. Back in 2015, he told Playboy about his libertarian views.
The actor isn’t the first star to make waves for his interaction with a president at a sporting event. In October, eagle-eyed fans spotted Ellen DeGeneres sitting next to former President George W. Bush during a matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
Some of DeGeneres’ fans criticized her for the move, but DeGeneres later made light of the situation on ”The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” calling for more tolerance and kindness while standing up for their friendship.
“Here’s the thing,” she added. “I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different, and I think that we’ve forgotten that that’s OK.”
Bush cheered on her comments. “President and Mrs. (Laura) Bush really enjoyed being with Ellen and Portia (de Rossi) and appreciated Ellen’s comments about respecting one another. They respect her,” his spokesman, Freddy Ford, said in a statement to USA TODAY at the time.
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