Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport says the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel dramatically changed how he speaks about President Donald Trump, even though he says he still disagrees with the president on many issues.
According to Fox News, during an appearance on Jamie Kennedy's podcast, "Hate To Break It To Ya," Rapaport discussed how his political views have shifted in recent years after previously becoming known for his harsh criticism of Trump.
When Kennedy asked whether he had gone from being angry with Trump to supporting him, Rapaport acknowledged his views had changed but said he still has disagreements.
"Yeah," Rapaport replied. "But I have problems, and he's far from not being … infuriating."
Rapaport said the turning point came after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and took hundreds of hostages.
"After Oct. 7, I realized the magnitude and scope of the hostage situation, and it was between cadaver Joe Biden and Trump and Kamala … I knew that the only way that those hostages who were being held for weeks and then months and then a year, I knew that the only chance would be [Trump]," he said.
He explained that the hostage crisis led him to stop using insulting language when discussing the president.
"Why I don't insult him now, and I could insult him and I could be derogatory towards him, is because for me, simply getting the hostages home was enough for me to not ... be disrespectful."
Rapaport said multiple visits to Israel and conversations with families of hostages also influenced his outlook.
"The exposure and the enlightenment and the conversations I had with the hostage families, the reality that I saw, it's worth it for me to not be disrespectful to him because I fought, begged, prayed, pleaded to get the hostages home by any means necessary," he said.
While some supporters questioned why he no longer regularly criticizes Trump, Rapaport said others are free to continue doing so.
"I could still be critical and still be frustrated and have all the things, but … it was important enough for me to no longer carry on like that," he said.
Rapaport also reflected on his earlier public attacks against Trump, saying he believes he spoke before fully understanding Politics.
"I wasn't as informed, plugged in, educated as I am about Politics, world Politics … I think it's great to admit when you were wrong, uninformed, misinformed and spoke out of turn," he said.
The comedian has also entered the political conversation in another way.
In May, Rapaport announced plans to run for New York City mayor in 2029, saying he would challenge democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani unless another candidate emerges whom he believes can defeat him.