This past weekend was chaotic at airports around the country, as President Trump signed an executive order on Friday, which resulted in dozens of travelers (including immigrants and even legal U.S. residents) from seven majority-Muslim countries and refugees from around the world being detained upon landing in the United States, leading to protests. Amid the chaos, Trump participated in a Finding Dory screening at the White House – one of the voice actors from the film took to Twitter to respond.
The White House sometimes holds screenings, where staff and family members are able to watch films together. During the weekend, the White House hosted a screening of Finding Dory, the first screening during Trump’s term. The screening was held in the building’s Family Theater, according to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller.
Albert Brooks, the renowned comedian who voices Marlin in both Finding Nemo and Finding Dory had a sarcastic and pointed response:
Odd that Trump is watching Finding Dory today, a movie about reuniting with family when he's preventing it in real life.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) January 29, 2017
According to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Trump popped in and “spent 60 seconds welcoming & thanking spouses & children of WH staff.” Trump may not have watched the film, but he did sign an order that has indeed prevented families from reuniting, so the irony Brooks points to still stands.
Ellen DeGeneres, voice of Dory, did not mention the screening but was vocal in her opposition of Trump’s executive order:
For me, America is great because of all the people who came here. Not in spite of them. #NoBan
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 29, 2017
P.S. My grandparents were immigrants. The woman making us pizza right now is Muslim. And I'm grateful for all of them. #NoBan
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 29, 2017
(via The Hill)
Update (1/31/17): Ellen responded directly to the White House screening on her latest episode of the Ellen Show. Although she notes that she tries to keep politics out of her show, she ties the story of Finding Dory to last weekend’s events, like Brooks. Watch the segment below:
