At 98, Dick Van Dyke seems to feel his age has its perks, especially when it comes to not sticking around for a potential second term of Donald Trump’s presidency. The beloved actor, known for his iconic role in Mary Poppins, took a surprisingly dark turn when asked about a possible Trump win.
Van Dyke, who turns 99 next month, was captured on camera in a parking garage alongside his wife, Arlene Silver, in footage released by the Daily Mail on Tuesday. While making his way to his car, a paparazzo asked him if he believed Trump would deliver on his promise to “make America great again.” Van Dyke’s response was blunt, laced with both humor and gravity.
“Fortunately, I won’t be around to experience the four years,” he quipped, implying a more permanent exit than a mere trip out of town.
The cameraman then asked if he saw a “bright future” under a Trump administration. Van Dyke chuckled, replying, “I hope you’re right!”—his tone dripping with doubt and a hint of good-natured sarcasm.
Just a day before the election, Van Dyke shared a message of hope on his YouTube channel, backing Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. In a heartfelt video, he recited a speech originally penned by Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling for a 1964 event where Van Dyke appeared alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Introducing himself with a touch of his signature humor, Van Dyke remarked, “I used to sing and dance and fall down a lot, actually.” The speech’s powerful message was clear: “Hatred is not the norm.”
“To those who tell us the inequality of the human animal is a necessary evil, we must respond by simply saying that first, it is evil, but not necessary,” he read. Closing his statement, Van Dyke noted how much time has passed since his initial delivery of those words, reflecting, “A lot’s happened. Not so much as Martin Luther dreamed of, but it’s a start. Thank you, God bless.”
