Actor John Stamos found himself under fire from a liberal mob this week after appearing at an event held at Mar-a-Lago.
The “Full House” star, however, fired back, explaining that his participation was about supporting a cause close to his heart—not making a political statement.
In a post shared via Instagram Stories, the 61-year-old actor made it clear that his visit had nothing to do with partisan politics.
Instead, Stamos said he was simply serving as the emcee for the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Gala, an event aimed at honoring healthcare workers in Palm Beach County.
Update: John Stamos uses cause of supporting nurses to defend emceeing a “non-partisan event” at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property:
“Supporting nurses isn’t political-it’s essential. These are the people who care for us and our families when we need it most, and I believe we should… pic.twitter.com/84fGbyoEYp
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) April 7, 2025
“I accepted the invitation to emcee the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Gala – an evening dedicated to honoring and uplifting our frontline heroes,” Stamos said.
“This nonpartisan event supports The Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations, a 501(c)(3) organization that trains 350-400 nurses every year, directly addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in Palm Beach County.”
He went on to argue that backing the medical community should not be treated as a political act, regardless of where the events take place.
John Stamos just ruined his brand forever. You can’t
visit Mar-a-Lago and then expect the stink to ever leave you. Nobody will be having mercy on him. (See what I did there?) pic.twitter.com/9Ke25g6qTF— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) April 6, 2025
“Supporting nurses isn’t political – it’s essential,” Stamos continued. “These are the people who care for us and our families when we need it most, and I believe we should show up for them with the same unwavering dedication they show up with every single day.”
“I stand by the importance of healthcare, of service, and of investing in those who care for our communities,” he added.
Here’s more pictures of John Stamos at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home from this weekend.
What do you say to John Stamos? pic.twitter.com/7bzNvXFlhP
— Lucas Sanders 💙🗳️🌊💪🌈🚺🟧 (@LucasSa56947288) April 6, 2025
The actor, who supported both former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election, finished his message by assuring followers that his core beliefs had not shifted and even offered a donation alternative for those upset by the venue.
“My values and political views remain unchanged and if you don’t donate to Palm Beach Ray of Hope, then please consider donating to Democracy Forward.”
His explanation came in response to left-leaning social media users who quickly denounced his appearance at the event.
“John Stamos just ruined his brand forever. You can’t visit Mar-a-Lago and then expect the stink to ever leave you,” one person wrote on X.
While Stamos defended the nonpartisan charity event, actor Bradley Whitford took a much different approach—using an interview to urge corporate leaders to become overtly political.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” star used a conversation with Variety to criticize what he sees as silence from the country’s top executives, particularly in relation to the Trump administration.
“It’s interesting,” Whitford said, referencing his wild concerns about America moving toward authoritarianism.
“Especially when you look at all the people who I’ve worked for over the years lined up at the Trump inauguration, staying silent while their daughters’ rights are being torn away.”
Drawing parallels between the present-day United States and the fictional totalitarian regime depicted in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the actor suggested that the storyline—where women are stripped of rights and forced into reproductive servitude—is becoming reality.
Shut up. The election proved no one cares what celebrities have to say about politics.
— Gays For Trump (@GaysForTrump24) April 8, 2025
“Misogyny is at the reptilian brain stem of these right-wing Christian white nationalists. It’s punitive,” he claimed, while voicing frustration with industry executives.
“And, man, I’m pissed at all the people I work for,” the former “West Wing” star added. “Like, ‘F***ING. SPEAK. UP.’”
He didn’t hold back when singling out who he believes are the chief offenders by name.
“I mean, if you run Disney, which I guess I work for now, I’ve sat through, ‘We really care for you and want to make sure you have access to health care.’ Speak the f*** up!” he said. “And Jeff Bezos, f***ing speak up!”
I'm sure Handmaiden's Tale will happen any day now. pic.twitter.com/3c6MAeOUU2
— Fight With Memes (@FightWithMemes) February 20, 2025
Whitford referenced his experience on the Amazon series Transparent, a show centered around a trans-identifying male character.
He said Bezos once spoke about standing behind marginalized communities and accused the Amazon founder of going silent now.
“I don’t want to be a punk attacking, but I would really like to ask Jeff Bezos… ‘What the hell is happening here?!’” he said.
The real “Handmaiden’s Tale” pic.twitter.com/k8zGQgjsEz
— Squirrel (@ShinarSquirrel) March 24, 2025
Whitford made claims about abortion access in the U.S., saying, “A year ago, there were 65,000 pregnant rape victims without access to abortion care. Now it’s way up from that. This is not a drill. It’s not a story. This is happening.”
According to Whitford, Atwood herself once questioned whether her novel was too extreme—but in hindsight, he believes she may have been too optimistic.
Later in the conversation, he claimed many Americans feel powerless in the current political climate.
Referencing the protagonist of The Handmaid’s Tale, he said June Osborne is a reminder that people must assert their own agency.
“We feel this despair because we feel we have no agency over what’s happening to us in this country,” he said.
“And June is a reminder that your agency will not be given to you: You need to fight for it.”
Bradley Whitford: “A year ago, there were 65,000 pregnant rape victims without access to abortion care. Now it’s way up from that. This is not a drill. It’s not a story. This is happening. Margaret Atwood said that she almost scrapped the book a couple of times because it seemed… pic.twitter.com/Zz7U2okDiq
— Variety (@Variety) April 8, 2025
Whitford concluded his remarks by reiterating his disappointment with corporate figures who have remained quiet.
“I don’t care how political I sound,” he said. “I wish f***ing Jeff Bezos would sound a little f***king political. Speak the f*** up.”