Donald Trump‘s unusual departure from SAG-AFTRA last Thursday has resulted in the union passing a resolution to ban the former president from ever applying for readmission. “Preventing Donald Trump from ever rejoining SAG-AFTRA is more than a symbolic step,” SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said. “It is a resounding statement that threatening or inciting harm against fellow members will not be tolerated. An attack against one is an attack against all.”
The decision was made due to “his antagonism of the union’s journalist members and disregard for the values and integrity of the union,” according to a statement from SAG-AFTRA. Trump’s resigned from SAG-AFTRA only after the union announced that it would move to expel him for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, which endangered journalists, some of whom are SAG-AFTRA members.
“I no longer wish to be associated with your union,” he wrote in his letter. He also wrote that the union had “done nothing for [him].” Trump had been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1989 and appeared in various projects including The Apprentice reality series and the film Home Alone 2. The film’s star, Macaulay Culkin, recently asked for the former president’s cameo to be completely removed.
Trump’s ban doesn’t stop him from being able to appear in film and TV projects, but it signals industry-wide disapproval which could make it more difficult for him to be hired for cameos or roles.