Trump Backs Spencer Pratt for L.A. Mayor: The Hills Alum Takes On Incumbents

In a political move that’s somehow equal parts unexpected and perfectly on-brand, President Donald Trump is publicly backing Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral race. During remarks to reporters on Wednesday, May 20, Trump called Pratt a“character”and expressed confidence in his candidacy, noting“I heard he’s a big MAGA person. He’s doing well.”

The endorsement—casual and off-the-cuff as Trump’s remarks tend to be—immediately became fodder for his opponents. City Council Member Nithya Raman quickly reshared the clip, highlighting Trump’s MAGA comment. Pratt’s response? A perfectly timed eye-roll GIF. Classic.

But here’s what makes this race worth paying attention to: Pratt isn’t running on celebrity hype alone. The Hills alum announced his candidacy in January after losing his home in the Palisades Fire last year alongside his wife Heidi Montag and their two sons. That personal devastation has morphed into a political mission.“The only way I see God letting my parents’house burn down and my house burn down is that God knows it’s the only way to turn me against a system that lets this happen to tens of thousands of people,”Pratt told Us Weekly in January. He’s positioning himself as an agent of“truth and transparency,”explicitly tying his candidacy to rebuilding efforts and accountability.

The stakes for Pratt himself are remarkably high. Earlier this month, he told comedian Adam Carolla that if he loses—whether to incumbent Karen Bass or Council Member Nithya Raman—he’s done with Los Angeles entirely.“If Karen Bass gets reelected or Nithya gets elected, I will be done with trying to live in L.A.,”he said. He’s banking on winning a pending lawsuit against the City and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to fund reconstruction efforts if he takes office. Without the mayoral position, he’s ready to leave.

The Los Angeles mayoral election happens on Tuesday, June 2. If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff will be held on November 3. Love him or not, Pratt’s genuine personal stake in the city’s recovery—and his willingness to walk away if voters reject his vision—sets him apart from typical political theater. Whether that resonates with voters beyond Trump’s endorsement remains to be seen.