Iconic singer and MAGA supporter Pat Boone pleads with his friend Donald Trump to ‘be quiet’

Legendary singer Pat Boone has been a lifelong Republican and a high-profile supporter of Donald Trump. Boone and Trump have been friends for years after they met during the filming of The Apprentice, going on to record campaign calls for him targeting elderly Christian voters.

Boone has variously described Trump as a “genius”, said Trump surviving his assassination attempts was a miracle from God, and talked up Trump’s “spunk.” But now, in the wake of recent controversial statements, Boone appears to think he’s gone too far.

In a message posted to his social media, the 92-year-old directly addressed Trump, who he underlined was his friend: “‘Been a while since I spoke to you or about you, but really I feel like I am your friend.” Then he noted that Trump seemed “very tired” lately, saying, “‘I feel like you are wearing out.”

“Not presidential”

Boone went on to delicately call out Trump, telling him, “you are feeling the pressure and expressing yourself in ways that are not becoming to you” and underlining that his public statements “are not presidential.” It’s unclear which specific statements Boone has in mind, though there’s a wide range to pick from.

Then Boone gave some advice that seems like a long shot to anyone remotely familiar with the personality and history of President Donald J. Trump: “So, may I recommend something to you? That you be quiet.” Boone went on to couch his criticism in extraordinarily careful terms, underlining that he just wanted Trump to be quiet, “just a little while,” and maybe “be polite to women and quit calling names.”

Boone also had some advice for the news media, asking that nobody report on the President of the United States “for a couple of days”. He theorizes that the “deafening roar of silence” might spur Trump to reflect on his actions, and potentially avoid a disastrous night for Republicans in the November midterms. Perhaps some silence might result in “more hearers, better reporting, more support while there is still time.”

As of writing, it doesn’t appear that Trump has taken this advice on board. Days after Boone made his post, Trump vowed to “annihilate” Iran before the UN General Assembly, insulted women reporters outside the White House, and ranted repeatedly about “fake news.”

But who knows, maybe there is another side of Trump just waiting to be coaxed out? After all, Boone knows him personally, so perhaps there’s a sensitive, quiet, and thoughtful Donald Trump that’s going to show up any day now.