Kelsey Grammer has sparked a severe online backlash after declaring that Donald Trump will one day be viewed by the American people as the best president to ever inhabit the Oval Office.
The 71 year old Emmy winning actor made the jaw dropping comment during an interview with the British broadcaster LBC on Monday, prompting heavy criticism from viewers across YouTube and X.
When asked if Donald Trump would be viewed as one of the best presidents in the history of the United States, Grammer gave a resolute and positive answer to the London based radio station.
"I think in hindsight he probably will, because nobody really stood up for America in quite some time in the presidency," Grammer said during the exchange.
The actor is one of the most outspoken conservatives in Hollywood, an industry largely known for its left leaning political views and prominent support for Democratic candidates.
Grammer praised the president as someone who "loves America" and noted that he "doesn't justify anything" when he is confronted by his political critics in the media or the opposing party.
"He says if somebody comes at him, if they come at him with hate, which they really have done, he just sends it right back at them," the actor said. "And I think that throws them off."
Representatives for Grammer have been approached by The Daily Mail for further comment on the story.
Backlash on social media
A significant number of viewers immediately pushed back on Grammer in the comment sections on YouTube and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Many of the commenters contrasted the actor's real life political views with the highly educated, sophisticated character he is best known for playing on television.
Grammer spent two decades playing the pompous but lovable psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC primetime hit sitcom Cheers, and later on its immensely successful spin off series Frasier.
The character of Frasier Crane became one of the longest running roles in television history, earning Grammer multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globes for his sophisticated, intellectual portrayal of the Seattle based radio host.
"Never confuse the actor with the character," one user wrote in response to the interview. "Frasier was the smart one."
Another commenter added that it was "crazy that Grammer made a career out of playing intelligent, eloquent characters."
One viewer called Grammer "an example of how dependent some actors are on writers to put smart words in their mouths and make them seem intelligent."
The same user added: "Take the writer away and this is what you are left with. A buffoon."
Another commenter described Grammer as a "great actor.. but the definition of deluded," while an additional user characterised him as "a Trump fan and a rich selfish right winger."
Foreign policy criticism
Other viewers took the opportunity to list their personal grievances with the Trump administration, arguing that the president's actions would result in a very different historical legacy than the one Grammer had just predicted on air.
Donald Trump, a billionaire real estate developer and former reality television star, has remained a deeply polarising figure in American politics, with his time in office generating intense opposition from his critics.
One user pointed specifically to foreign policy decisions and economic issues, arguing that the president had failed to stand up for the country in the way Grammer claimed.
"Waging a war of choice in Iran, causing mass casualties, and spiking inflation isn't 'standing up for America'," the user said.
"Praising an administration that bypassed Congress to dive into a devastating foreign conflict is a delusion. History won't remember this as greatness, but as a disaster."
Grammer on shifting political views
During the wide ranging exchange with LBC, Grammer also discussed his own political evolution over the decades, acknowledging that he had not always been a conservative voter.
LBC, which stands for Leading Britain's Conversation, is a popular British talk radio station that frequently features interviews with prominent international figures from the worlds of politics and entertainment.
Grammer told the station that there had been a time in his life when he "would have voted Democrat, but some things have happened over the last 20 years that changed [his] mind about that."
The actor's explanations did little to quell the anger of his critics on social media, with many expressing deep disappointment in his remarks.
"So apparently it takes just 5 seconds to lose all respect for someone," one user on X said of Grammer. "Who'd have guessed."
Another critic said that the actor's television remarks came off as "dumb and clueless," before turning their attention back to the president himself.
The same user called the president "horrible and pathetically obsessed with being the center of attention, doing outrageous and stupid things."
Domestic controversies highlighted
Another user on social media described Donald Trump as "the worst president in the history of this nation," before pointing to the rising cost of living and specific infrastructure projects.
"People can barely afford gas and food, yet he is worried about a 400 million dollar arch being built which no one wants and tearing apart the White House," the user wrote.
One final user noted a long list of specific criticisms and controversies surrounding Trump, laying them out against Grammer's prediction that the president would be viewed positively from a historical perspective.
"Greatest Presidents?" the user said. "The Epstein Files? Paying off a porn star? P**** grabbing? Gulf of America/Lake America? Tariff wars? Strait of Hormuz disaster? Nepotism and personal enrichment."
The commenter concluded their summary of the president's controversies with a final dismissal of the actor: "And that's a small selection. Grammer has lost his mind."
