Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed reality-TV personality Spencer Pratt for the position of mayor in Los Angeles [1, 2].
The endorsement signals an attempt to inject MAGA-aligned politics into a city historically dominated by Democratic leadership. By backing Pratt, Trump is challenging the political establishment in one of the most populous cities in the United States [1, 4].
Trump said that he supports Pratt's bid for the office and described the candidate as "a big MAGA person" [2, 5]. He said that he would like Pratt to do well in the race [2, 5].
The move comes as a push against what Trump describes as the aggressively left-leaning politics of California [4]. This strategy aligns with a broader effort to find candidates who mirror the former president's own political branding and values [4, 5].
Kinsey Schofield, speaking in an interview with Sky News Australia, said that Pratt may be borrowing some of Trump's marketing tactics [6]. Schofield said that while Pratt has a good shot, California remains stubbornly and aggressively left-leaning [6].
Pratt's campaign has featured unconventional elements, including a period where he built his campaign around living in a trailer following fires [3]. However, reports indicate that a hotel bill may have complicated those campaign efforts [3].
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass continues to hold office and has defended her record against rivals who she said are exploiting local disasters for political gain [7]. While some reports suggest Bass has failed the city, she remains the sitting mayor as the election cycle progresses [1, 7].
“I think Spencer Pratt is a big MAGA person and I'd like him to do well.”
This endorsement represents a tactical attempt to leverage celebrity influence and the MAGA brand within a deep-blue urban stronghold. While the candidacy of a reality-TV personality is unconventional, it reflects a trend of utilizing non-traditional political figures to challenge established Democratic incumbents in California.
