Meryl Streep just did a big old boo-boo which is likely to raise the hackles of Donald Trump supporters as the US presidential election edges closer.
After President Joe Biden took his hat out the ring as Democrat representative for the 2024 election, his Vice President Kamala Harris has taken the mantle and is running against former President – and felon – Trump, with the election to be held on Tuesday November 5.
Harris has been touring the country with her election campaign, and yesterday (September 19) none other than Mamma Mia! actress Meryl, 75, joined the conversation virtually.
On a projector to a room of Democrats at the Michigan event Unite for America, hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Meryl hadn’t said two sentences before making a mighty political blunder and clasping her hands to her mouth in horror.
‘Oh man this has been overwhelming to have the privileges to sit in and listen to the testimony of people here,’ the Devil Wears Prada star began.
Greeting Harris, the Oscar-winning actress continued: ‘Hello President Harris.’
Realising her mistake, Meryl hilariously smacked her hand to her mouth with an, ‘oop!,’ as Harris chuckled and the Michigan crowd cheered and clapped.
’47 days,’ said Harris. ’47 days.’
Meryl continued: ‘From my mouth to God’s ear, and hello Oprah. I think the word of the day has been preventable. Preventable. All of this. The surround of hatred and venom and toxicity, and encouraging some segments of Americans to hate other segments of Americans and nobody wants it. I’m done with it.
‘I wanted to ask you – I can’t believe I have this opportunity, I probably never will again – if I have a little Debbie downer moment, because actually I think you’re going to win. I’m sure you’re going to win. But what happens when you win and he doesn’t accept it?’
‘You know there’s going to be this long slog of shenanigans. How do we get to that moment, how do we preserve certification on January 6? Because if it doesn’t happen it will be maybe thrown back to legislatures of the states.
‘I’ve been working with State Government Citizens Campaign. They are doing the unglamorous work of promoting those candidates. I’m worried about it. I wonder if we’re ready for January 6th, and what happens?’
Responding, Harris said she thought the majority of American who previously voted for Trump thought the January 6 uprising on the Capitol was a ‘step too far’ as she thanked the actress for being there.
She continued: ‘When we reflect on what January 6 was – with the President of the United States sitting in the Oval Office, incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol, such that 140 law enforcement officers were injured and some were killed to try and upend a free and fair election when the American people voted – that was a bridge too far.
‘We’ve now sadly seen how far he could go, and I think there is absolutely no tolerance whatsoever in the vast majority of Americans for that.’
Elsewhere at the event, Notting Hill actress Julia Roberts – who said she’s had the pleasure of knowing Harris for a long time – said: ‘I am a mother of two kids. This is their first chance to vote in an election, and I couldn’t be more excited for them to have the legacy to say their first vote cast will be for you. I have chills just saying that.
‘It’s interesting, we talk about being Americans united for something. But this has become a global representation of our country and what we stand for.
‘I get to travel internationally a lot, and I want people to say: “Oh, you’re American,” and not: “Oh, how’s it going over there?”
Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston also said he was ‘smiling from ear to ear’ at the event.
‘I’ve never felt this much joy and optimism in a campaign in a long time,’ he said.
‘I’m so appreciative of Kamala to be able to bring back that sense of optimism, and to squash the cynicism and the vitriol that seems to be floating all around Washington.
‘I hope that we’re going to ride this wave into Washington, I’m here to support. I can’t be happier at this campaign, I think she’s going to be a terrific President.
Introducing comedian Chris Rock, Oprah recalled the last time they spoke about the election and revealed he said: ‘There’s going to be weeping in the streets. There’s going to be weeping in the streets when Kamala Harris becomes President of the United States of America.’
With a backdrop of cheers, Chris said via the video call: ‘I’ve always been a fan of Kamala. I remember writing her a cheque when she was – I think she was the district attorney for something – maybe it was probably to get out of a parking ticket or something.
‘But I’ve been writing her cheques for a long time, and I want to bring my daughters to the White House to meet this Black woman President.
‘That’s the reason [I’m here]. I think she would make a great President, and I’m ready to turn the page, man. All the hate and negativity, it’s got to stop.’
Zoolander comedian Ben Stiller also took to the virtual stage and said the country’s atmosphere has gone from ‘stop Trump mode’ into ‘go Kamala mode’.
He added: ‘I have a 22-year-old daughter, 19-year-old son who is going to be voting in his first election. For my daughter, the reproductive rights are incredibly important.’
This comes after a presidential debate between Harris and Trump, in which the former delivered a lengthy attack on abortion limits, speaking passionately about women being denied emergency care and victims of incest being unable to terminate their pregnancies.
Three Trump appointees were in the majority of the ruling on statewide bans that have proliferated since the US Supreme Court eliminated a nationwide right to abortion in 2022.
Harris also claimed Trump would support a national ban. He stressed this is untrue but declined to say explicitly that he would veto such a law.
The debate also saw Trump make some wild, and wholly untrue, statements.
Trump falsely claimed that Harris and Democrats support infanticide, which is illegal in every state.
Trump also made possibly the most memorable moment of the night while talking about immigrants in Springfield.
He falsely said: ‘The people that came in, they are eating the cats! They are eating the pets of the people that live there.’