Bette Midler called Donald Trump a ‘small-time hustler’ in the 1980s
Bette Midler publicly mocked Donald Trump as a "small-time hustler" in the 1980s, long before his political rise, showing how entertainment figures often see through public personas. Now 78, she remai
Bette Midler has always known Donald Trump was a joke. The legendary performer, actress and activist dropped that line in a new interview with Rolling
Read Full Story at Rolling Stone →Why This Matters
The revelation of Bette Midler’s decades-old dismissal of Donald Trump as a 'small-time hustler' underscores how cultural observers often see through the polished veneers of power long before the public does. It challenges the myth of Trump’s inevitability as a political force, suggesting that his rise was less about inherent strength and more about the right confluence of public fatigue, media amplification, and institutional vulnerabilities. For historians and strategists, her early skepticism serves as a reminder that the most prescient critiques often come from outside the halls of power.
Background Context
In the 1980s, Trump was primarily known as a real estate magnate and tabloid fixture, his reputation built on bankruptcies, brashness, and a flair for self-promotion rather than political acumen. Midler’s jabs—delivered through the lens of entertainment and celebrity culture—highlighted a disconnect between Trump’s self-fashioned image as a dealmaker and the reality of his business dealings, which were often speculative and debt-ridden. The era’s media landscape, dominated by gossip columns and late-night television, provided the perfect stage for such critiques to circulate unfiltered by traditional political analysis.
What Happens Next
Midler’s comments may reignite debates about the role of celebrities in shaping public perceptions of political figures, particularly in an era where social media amplifies such voices. Observers will likely scrutinize whether her long-held skepticism resonates with younger voters or those who have grown disillusioned with Trump’s political brand. Meanwhile, the broader entertainment industry may face renewed pressure to reckon with its own complicity in normalizing figures like Trump, who leveraged cultural capital long before entering the political arena.
Bigger Picture
This episode reflects a broader pattern in which entertainment and pop culture act as a counterbalance to institutional power, often exposing its weaknesses before formal institutions do. It also underscores how the boundaries between celebrity and politics have blurred, with figures like Trump capitalizing on the same tactics that once made him a punchline. As society grapples with the consequences of this fusion, Midler’s dismissal serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of underestimating the influence of those who treat power as a performance.
