Like millions of Americans watching at home across the country, Hollywood celebrities were glued to their Twitter accounts Monday night during the first presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump — and emotions ran high during the showdown.
In a highly contentious debate that was light on important policy issues like immigration and terrorism, outspoken celebrity Trump critics including Sarah Silverman, Bill Maher, Kerry Washington, Lena Dunham, Patton Oswalt, Shonda Rhimes and Michael Moore all hit Twitter to register their displeasure with the Republican candidate’s performance (though the latter grudgingly admitted that Trump “won” the contest).
Prolific pro-Clinton tweeters like Katy Perry, Elizabeth Banks, Debra Messing and Cher praised their candidate’s performance, while conservative actor James Woods tweeted in support of Trump.
Below is a sampling of debate reaction from Hollywood’s best and brightest.
There was no shortage of hate for Trump:
Surreal, like watching a reasonable person who got into a fender bender with a rage-a-holic and is suddenly being shrieked at on La Cienaga.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 27, 2016
to keep up with Trump's bullshit they had to outsource fact-checking to China. Sad.
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 27, 2016
This is not fact, just a guess, but I'd bet Babytrump's boxers are soaked w an almost oily sweat #Debates2016
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) September 27, 2016
I think @realDonaldTrump thinks #stopandfrisk is a dance move and not an unconstitutional travesty #debatenight
— Ed Helms (@edhelms) September 27, 2016
That was a pathetic, unprepared, meltdown from an idiotic @realDonaldTrump. But we still have to work HARD to ensure his BS doesn't win.
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) September 27, 2016
#trumpedup #imwithher #firstpresidentialdebate2016 #imfuckinscared #HClookinbeauty #speakinbeauty #LOVE #VOTE #debates @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/f7bBIuBkSQ
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) September 27, 2016
i wish she would call him out on his blatant racism, but i guess we are rolling with the "when they go low, we go high" thing.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 27, 2016
Wow. Trump is a disaster. #debatenight
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) September 27, 2016
Here we go, Hillary. She's backing this smug fecal-balloon into a corner and batting him around for laughs. YES #Debates2016
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 27, 2016
This is some crazy shit, wtf!! he's gone crazy. He just said i settled that lawsuit with no admission of guilt..
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) September 27, 2016
Yeah. Trump has great relations with the African American community. And I just blew a Martian.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) September 27, 2016
The arrogance of this man is stunning in its brazenness, and sad in its utter lack of humanity.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 27, 2016
Trump is now fact checking against reality. We have now entered the hell tunnel in Pure Imagination in Willy Wonka
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) September 27, 2016
While Clinton’s celebrity defenders came to her aid:
She's smiling with ease cause #shesgotthis #ImWithHer #debatenight
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) September 27, 2016
Clinton understands systemic racism is nuanced & needs to be tackled on every level. Trump wants to paint himself as a white (orange) savior
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 27, 2016
Oh, look, Hillary invited her friends Sanity and Experience to the debate.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) September 27, 2016
Simple. #ImWithHer
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 27, 2016
I absolutely love when she teaches, preaches and speeches. I feel safer. #HermioneGrangerPower #Debates2016
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) September 27, 2016
#ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer #ImWithHer
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 27, 2016
FOR. THE. WIN. #debates https://t.co/vJZnEvnKq4
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) September 27, 2016
I'm proud
I'm with her
🚽needs ABC https://t.co/Rw87t4L7I8— Cher (@cher) September 27, 2016
Outspoken conservative James Woods tweeted out several online polls which showed Trump won the debate, and added some of his own commentary:
She couldn't stay up to answer a phone call to save Americans at Benghazi.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 27, 2016
She can't run a fax machine and she's going to fight cyberterrorism?
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 27, 2016
He's right. Democrats care about the inner cities at election time. After that. Zero.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 27, 2016
Meanwhile, some stars were unhappy with the way NBC anchor Lester Holt was moderating the proceedings:
Someone should check on Lester Holt. #Debates
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) September 27, 2016
Why does Trump keep interrupting? Lester where are you?!!!
— Eva Longoria Baston (@EvaLongoria) September 27, 2016
LESTER. DO. YOUR. JOB. @LesterHoltNBC
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) September 27, 2016
Hey @LesterHoltNBC, let my daughter show you what you should be doing right now: pic.twitter.com/omPADafCYf
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 27, 2016
While outspoken liberal filmmaker Michael Moore predicted a bump for Trump in the polls after Monday night’s contest:
Hillary doing better. Fellow Bernie voters — admit it, there's nothing she's said we disagree with. In fact, she's adopted his positions!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) September 27, 2016
It's over. Trump, the egoist, the racist, the narcissist, the liar, "won." We all lost. His numbers will go up. She told the truth. So what.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) September 27, 2016
If u just turn off the TV right now and do nothing, you've just elected Donald Trump. Do something! Plan what you're going to do tomorrow.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) September 27, 2016
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum
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