Former President Donald Trump is resigning from The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) as he faced threats of expulsion or suspension for his alleged incitement of the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
In a letter obtained by Fox News, Trump wrote, “I write to you today regarding the so-called Disciplinary Committee hearing aimed at revoking my union membership. Who cares!”
“While I’m not familiar with your work, I’m very proud of my work on movies such as Home Alone 2, Zoolander and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps; and television shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Saturday Night Live, and of course, one of the most successful shows in television history, The Apprentice—to name just a few!” Trump continued.
The former president went on to claim he “greatly helped the cable news television business (said to be a dying platform with not much time left until I got involved in politics), and created thousands of jobs at networks such as MSDNC and Fake News CNN, among many others.”
“Which brings me to your blatant attempt at free media attention to distract from your dismal record as a union. Your organization has done little for its members, and nothing for me—besides collecting dues and promoting dangerous un-American policies and ideas—as evident by your massive unemployment rates and lawsuits from celebrated actors.”
Finally, he said, “I no longer wish to be associated with your union. As such, this letter is to inform you of my immediate resigning from SAG-AFTRA. You have done nothing for me.”
The union issued a two-word response, “Thank you.”
The SAG-AFTRA’s board voted on Jan. 19 “to find probable cause” that Trump violated its constitution for what it said was his role in inciting the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6. The board also noted Trump’s “reckless campaign of misinformation aimed at discrediting and ultimately threatening the safety of journalists.”
The union’s Disciplinary Committee scheduled a hearing to determine whether Trump is guilty of violating its constitution.
Potential penalties included “reprimand, censure, fines, suspension from the rights and privileges of membership, or expulsion from membership.”
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said in a statement, “Donald Trump attacked the values that this union holds most sacred – democracy, truth, respect for our fellow Americans of all races and faiths, and the sanctity of the free press.”
“There’s a straight line from his wanton disregard for the truth to the attacks on journalists perpetrated by his followers,” she added.
David White, the SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director, said, “Our most important role as a union is the protection of our members. The unfortunate truth is, this individual’s words and actions over the past four years have presented actual harm to our broadcast journalist members.”
“The board’s resolution addresses this effort to undermine freedom of the press and reaffirms the principles on which our democratic society rests, and which we must all work to protect and preserve,” he added.
