(Updated with Nithya Raman & Bass campaign statements) With friends like Donald Trump, Spencer Pratt might be wondering if he needs enemies or rivals for the job of Los Angeles Mayor.
“I like to see him do well,” Trump, the former Apprentice host, said Wednesday about The Hills alum and the latter’s incendiary bid for City Hall against incumbent Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman. “He’s a character,” Trump added on the tarmac next to Air Force One, on his way to Connecticut to give the commencement address at the United States Coast Guard Academy.
“I assume he probably supports me,” POTUS continued on Pratt, who certainly is stealing a number of moves and dodges out of the Trump playbook at the very least. “I heard he’s a big MAGA person. He’s doing well.”
Besides the fact that even a weak endorsement like that is likely a poisoned chalice for ex-Pacific Palisades resident and self-declared “villain” Pratt in deeply Democratic L.A., Trump’s take today on the state of political affairs in the city and state appears out of sync with reality. Bragging that he does “great with Hispanics” and that elections on the West Coast are so “rigged” and “dishonest,” Trump also asserted that if “Jesus Christ (had) come down and count the votes, I would have won California” against Golden State-born Kamala Harris in 2024.
As rumors of a Trump endorsement for Pratt grew over the past week, the The Guy You Love to Hate author has been gently distancing himself from the MAGA stink and claiming political independence. However, Pratt, who has signed up for a reality series following his campaign, also has attracted MAGA support from the likes of James Woods, ex-Kennedy Center chief and apparatchik Richard Grenell and Brian Glazer, which doesn’t exactly help his claims.
Pratt and Bass have also had to weather accusations that they are in cahoots to some extent as the race heads to the June 2 primary. Similar to now-Sen. Adam Schiff’s landslide 2024 win against Republican Steve Garvey, the theory goes that Mayor Bass wants to prop up the AI-fueled Pratt in the primary to guarantee she runs against him in the November election.
Today, Councilmember Raman called out both of her main rival candidates for the perceived deal with the Devil.
“It’s no surprise Donald Trump supports his LA Apprentice and ‘Big MAGA person’ Spencer Pratt,” the District 4 rep told Deadline. “Trump wants a MAGA foothold in one of the most progressive cities in America. Our campaign is the only option to stop Spencer Pratt from advancing to the general election and to reject the failed status quo of the current Mayor — so we can build a more affordable city for all.”
In oddly surprise-filled and sharp-elbowed language, the Bass campaign spokesperson said Wednesday: “No surprises here, both Trump and Pratt want ICE to invade our city and kidnap our neighbors. While Karen Bass stands up to ICE to protect our communities, neither Spencer Pratt nor Nithya Raman is up to the job — one backs ICE and the other votes to allow encampments near our schools.”
Poll leader Bass will likely face questions on that presumed tactic tonight when she appears with Raman, businessman Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang at a mayoral forum at L.A. Valley College. Pratt was also invited, but his participation has not been confirmed.
