Wallace Questions Quaid On Reagan
Hollywood legend Dennis Quaid, star of the new *Reagan* biopic, has found himself in the crosshairs of the media recently, particularly during a sit-down with CNN’s Chris Wallace. In what was clearly an attempt at a “gotcha” moment, Wallace pressed Quaid over his support for former President Donald Trump, trying to contrast the 40th president’s legacy with the current state of the Republican Party. Wallace’s angle? The claim that there’s “no room” for Ronald Reagan in Trump’s GOP—a point Quaid countered with a level-headed comparison of the two leaders and their times.
Quaid’s response? He didn’t back down, saying, “The principles of Ronald Reagan and the principles of Donald J. Trump are very similar.” Quaid pointed out that Reagan’s “America First” approach wasn’t all that different from Trump’s policies. He even drew parallels between the issues Reagan faced in 1980—high inflation, soaring gas prices, and foreign policy blunders—and the challenges Americans are experiencing today under the Biden-Harris administration. It was a thoughtful answer, one that clearly struck a nerve with Wallace, who, unsurprisingly, disagreed.
“Reagan would have been appalled by Trump’s behavior.”
Chris Wallace called out Dennis Quaid over his support for Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/nX1pMpGoMZ
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 5, 2024
What’s even more telling is how Quaid’s full response was clipped in various re-shared videos on social media, including one by Republicans Against Trump. Once again, we see a pattern here: those who claim to champion free speech are the first to shut it down when it doesn’t fit their narrative.
But Quaid’s take makes a lot of sense to anyone familiar with Reagan’s presidency and the dismal state of America when he took office. The parallels to today are striking. Inflation, energy woes, and an overall sense of decline—issues that are once again front and center. And Quaid, as Reagan, captures that essence in the film, which has been met with buzz from audiences across the political spectrum.
Just finished the Reagan movie. The whole theater burst into applause when it finished. Not a single person left during the credits where they showed actual pics of Reagan throughout his life.
No one was more dedicated to fighting communism than Ronald Reagan. Go see it!🇺🇸
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) September 2, 2024
Meanwhile, Wallace’s jabs at Quaid seem to reflect a deeper animosity, perhaps still simmering after Trump famously mocked Wallace during a 2020 speech. For all of Wallace’s attempts to land a blow on Quaid, the actor held his ground, proving that conservative principles like those championed by Reagan aren’t so far removed from the current political landscape.
As for *Reagan*, the film continues to garner attention, especially among those who see the undeniable similarities between then and now. It’s clear why the Left might feel threatened by a film that celebrates the Gipper—Reagan’s success in pulling the country out of the Carter-era malaise stands in stark contrast to the ongoing struggles under Biden and Harris.
Even Riley Gaines weighed in after catching the movie, hinting at why Reagan still strikes a chord with so many Americans, and why the Left continues to attack not just the film but the legacy itself. It seems that Reagan’s message of optimism, strength, and American greatness is as relevant now as it was then—and that’s something the dominant culture just can’t tolerate.