As The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2’s Katniss Everdeen, Jennifer Lawrence struggles against a post-apocalyptic, totalitarian state. So it made perfect sense for Entertainment Weekly to ask her about the Republican presidential primary campaign. Interviewed along with franchise co-stars Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson, Lawrence weighed in on the only candidate who has openly promised to cherish and care for her.
“If Donald Trump becomes President, that will be the end of the world,” Lawrence prognosticated grimly. “I’ll back you up on that,” Hemsworth added supportively, while fanning the flames of the ongoing Trump/R.E.M. beef.
Meanwhile, Hutcherson suspects that Trump might not be entirely sincere in his intentions to actually serve as President of the United States. “It’s a publicity stunt; it can’t be real,” the actor said, confirming a reputation shared by Trump’s campaign and his hair: both seemingly exist, defiantly inviting skepticism, while remaining immune to unambiguous debunking.
Prompted by her co-star’s cynical view, Lawrence noted the complex relationship between politics and media. “I genuinely believe that reality television has reached the ultimate place where now even things like this might just be for entertainment.” It should be noted Trump’s campaign isn’t even close to being the most soul-crushing byproduct of reality TV. But Lawrence’s comments do portend a future where ignorant voters elect a vacuous, unqualified celebrity into the White House—truly the stuff of science fiction. Lawrence then posited a conspiracy theory bandied about by hopeful Democrats, adding, “It’s either that or it’s Hillary’s brilliant idea.”
Of course, none of this will go down well with the conservative establishment, which has already blasted actors like Emily Blunt for questioning the Republican party. After all, Trump supporters will be the first to tell you that Hollywood should butt out, and that actors, celebrities, and media personalities have no right to use their popularity to interfere with the political process of making American great again.
[h/t: Variety]