Michael Rapaport says Trump helping free Israeli hostages helped change his mind after years of bashing president

Key Points:

• Comedian Michael Rapaport revealed on Jamie Kennedy’s podcast that his view of President Donald Trump shifted after the Hamas attack on Israel, particularly due to the hostage crisis, leading him to adopt a more respectful tone toward Trump despite ongoing frustrations.
• Rapaport emphasized that his direct interactions with hostage families and visits to Israel influenced his decision to stop derogatory remarks about Trump, crediting the former president with being the best chance to secure the hostages' release.
• While Rapaport remains critical of Trump, he believes acknowledging when one was misinformed is important and now chooses to focus on respect rather than insults in political discourse.
• Rapaport also announced plans to run for New York City mayor in 2029, aiming to challenge current Mayor Zohran Mamdani with a confrontational "street fight mentality," criticizing Mamdani’s policies and political style.
• He stated his campaign will be aggressive and unorthodox, focusing on defeating Mamdani by outworking and out-fighting him rather than through traditional political niceties.