Days after legendary filmmaker David Lynch stunned his fans when he told a newspaper that Trump ‘could be among greatest presidents in history’, he has spoken out again to say his comment was taken out of context.
In an interview with The Guardian on Saturday, Lynch said that he didn’t think Donald Trump was doing a good job as president.
Nevertheless, he believed he ‘could go down as one of the greatest presidents in history because he has disrupted the thing so much,’ adding that Trump had exposed failings in the political system and may have opened up the presidency for outsiders.
David Lynch stunned his fans when he told a newspaper that Trump ‘could be among greatest presidents in history’ on Saturday
The filmmaker has now sought to clarify his comments in an open letter to the president, beseeching Trump to put an end to the ‘suffering and division’ he was causing
His comments were immediately seized upon by the conservatives and right-wing media. Trump himself tweet a link to a Breitbart article with the headline: ‘Director David Lynch: Trump ‘Could Go Down as One of the Greatest Presidents in History.’
At a Monday rally in support of South Carolina governor Henry McMaster, Trump even used the comment as proof that ‘plenty’ of people in Hollywood voted for him and joked that Lynch’s career was ‘officially over’ after his comments.
‘He now appears to believe that Trump may have been the right choice after all,’ Trump said to cheers and applause from the crowd.
Now Lynch has sought to clarify his comments in an open letter to the president, beseeching Trump to put an end to the ‘suffering and division’ he was causing.
In a Facebook post, the Twin Peaks creator addressed Trump’s tweet and offered to give the president a little context.
‘I wish you and I could sit down and have a talk,’ Lynch wrote. ‘This quote which has traveled around was taken a bit out of context and would need some explaining.
Lynch’s initial comments were immediately seized upon by the conservatives and right-wing media. Trump himself tweet a link to a Breitbart article with the headline: ‘Director David Lynch: Trump ‘Could Go Down as One of the Greatest Presidents in History’
‘Unfortunately, if you continue as you have been, you will not have a chance to go down in history as a great president. This would be very sad it seems for you – and for the country. You are causing suffering and division.’
Lynch’s comments come amid weeks of headlines of immigrant families being torn apart by Trump’s zero tolerance policy, which states that all migrants, even those seeking asylum, should be prosecuted if they cross the border illegally.
‘It’s not too late to turn the ship around. Point our ship toward a bright future for all,’ the 72-year-old continued.
‘You can unite the country.
‘Your soul will sing. Under great loving leadership, no one loses – everybody wins. It’s something I hope you think about and take to heart. All you need to do is treat all the people as you would like to be treated.’
The four-time Oscar nominee, whose credits include Blue Velvet, Eraserhead and The Elephant Man, had been talking to the Guardian about how Trump’s rise to prominence had highlighted flaws in the political system.
At a Monday rally in support of South Carolina governor Henry McMaster, Trump (pictured) even used the comment as proof that ‘plenty’ of people in Hollywood voted for him and joked that Lynch’s career was ‘officially over’ after his comments
‘He could go down as one of the greatest presidents in history because he has disrupted the thing so much. No one is able to counter this guy in an intelligent way,’ the reclusive director said.
‘Our so-called leaders can’t take the country forward, can’t get anything done. Like children, they are. Trump has shown all this.’
Lynch, regarded as one of the greatest American filmmakers of his generation, told the London-based Guardian he couldn’t remember who he voted for in the 2016 presidential election.
The ‘Eraserhead’ and ‘Blue Velvet’ director said it may have been Bernie Sanders, whom he preferred over Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary.
Lynch directed the reboot of Twin Peaks and appeared in plenty of scenes as his hearing-impaired character – FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole (pictured)
‘I am not really a political person, but I really like the freedom to do what you want to do,’ he said.
‘Twin Peaks,’ Lynch’s famously surreal noir soap opera about murder in small-town America, returned last year after 26 years away, in perhaps the most eagerly anticipated television event of the year.
The compelling mystery of the original eight-episode ‘Twin Peaks’ — who killed the beautiful cheerleader Laura Palmer – captured the imagination of a generation in 1990.
It quickly gained a loyal fan base and won three Golden Globes in 1991, including one for best television drama and another for actor Kyle MacLachlan.
Audiences and critical appreciation waned when the 22-episode second series unmasked Palmer’s killer and ABC canceled the show.
A movie that followed, ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me,’ was a commercial and critical flop.
The director has spent recent years directing music videos and dabbling in comedy acting, but hasn’t made a motion picture since the box office miss ‘Inland Empire’ 12 years ago.
Lynch, who has meditated twice a day for more than 40 years, suggested to AFP last year that he had made his last feature film.