Cheryl Hines ringside at UFC 314 in Miami on April 12, 2023. During her presidential campaign, she made headlines with her now-famous exchange with then-President Donald Trump. The actress, who sat one row behind Trump, tried to deliver her own handshake personally. Trump passed directly in front of her and did not even gesture in acknowledgment. This unusual incident even caught the attention of our entire group.
Despite the initial snub, the mood turned when Trump invited Hines to sit down and talk with him. This surprise development followed her arrival to the gala with her spouse, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He is now seeking confirmation to become undersecretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The lovebirds ended up in the same row as Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk at the much-ballyhooed bout.
Hines, well-known for her role in the television series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has been vocal about her past criticisms of Trump. As the head of the RNC in 2016, she condemned Trump’s attacks on then-Senator Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi Cruz. Hines described Trump’s remarks as “ridiculous and disrespectful,” highlighting a side-by-side image that Trump shared on social media featuring his wife Melania alongside Cruz’s wife.
“That’s so ridiculous and disrespectful that he would say something disrespectful about Ted Cruz’s wife,” – Cheryl Hines
Prior to the 2016 election, Hines’ relationship with Trump seems complicated. While she has taken him to task in the past, she’s been on stage for some of his most consequential moments. Notably, Ms. Hines was present at the testimony of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on February 13th, where Trump welcomed her with open arms.
One unnamed adviser suggested that Hines is still trying to come to terms with her support for Trump now that he’s been elected. “Now with Trump winning, even though she was very unhappy with this decision to join the Trump wagon, she is making the best of it,” the source stated, suggesting that Hines is navigating her political landscape with adaptability.
Acting on her fears
In a recent interview, Hines candidly elaborated on her personal emotional roller coaster throughout Trump’s presidency. Telling us about her own struggles to accept his election, she admitted her initial reaction was resistance and denial.
“I need to let it all go. I was holding on so tightly for so long. Even when Trump was elected, I had to really have a long talk with myself because I thought, ‘I’m not going to make it through these four years,’” – Cheryl Hines
The unexpected dynamics at play between Hines and Trump at UFC 314 clearly reflected the unpredictable nature of celebrity interactions in today’s political climate. The high-profile initial snub made this unexpected conversation all the more powerful, a meeting clearly showing an African nation’s readiness to engage despite a rocky past.
As the night unfolded, explosive victories for Hines and her husband were already cementing their political future. Yet in doing so, they expertly controlled their interactions with powerful figures such as Trump. Their unexpected presence at UFC 314 served as a poignant reminder that political identities can, in surprising ways, intersect with personal ties.