An early Saturday evening tweetstorm from President Donald Trump focused on director and nemesis Michael Moore, characterizing the filmmaker’s now-shuttered Broadway play as “a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!”
Trump has previously delighted in pointing out low ratings and other foibles of perceived rivals in show business, most prominently Arnold Schwarzenegger on a new version of NBC’s The Apprentice.
Moore’s performance, The Terms of My Surrender, ran for 100 shows at the Shuberts’ Belasco and was scheduled for a limited run. It did $367.6K, or 47.2% of the house’s potential, with tickets averaging $58.80.
While not at all presidential I must point out that the Sloppy Michael Moore Show on Broadway was a TOTAL BOMB and was forced to close. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2017
The one-man show with the polarizing filmmaker used satirical humor to make commentary about America and its politics. Guests at Moore’s shows included the likes of Bryan Cranston, Gloria Steinem, Maxine Waters, Stephen Colbert and Morgan Spurlock. In August, with guest Mark Ruffalo, Moore led the audience on a post-show march to Trump Tower to protest Trump’s statements on the Charlottesville violence.
Moore said after the show closed, “My 100 performances on Broadway represent perhaps the most fulfilling experience of my career. Having the opportunity to play the Belasco for tens of thousands of New Yorkers (and people from around the country and the world), with a simple and urgent message, has been one of the great honors of my life. And I am deeply moved to be so warmly embraced by the Broadway community.”
He added that he planned on returning to Broadway at some point with a new play and a new one-man show. Two days after the final bow, Moore said he planned to take the show on the road in 2018. “As for The Terms of My Surrender,” Moore said in a statement via his PR firm, “there is no surrender! We’ll be taking our Broadway show on the road next summer!”
Before attacking Moore, Trump reiterated on Twitter his previously revealed decision to release all files related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, confirming the moves via Twitter.
Trump said Friday night that he would release all documents related to the JFK assassination, despite some alleged last-minute attempts by the CIA and other agencies requesting that he withhold certain documents. The President said he consulted with his chief of staff, John Kelly, as well as the CIA and other agencies, and would release all files “other than the names and addresses of any mentioned person who is still living.”
“I am doing this for reasons of full disclosure, transparency and in order to put any and all conspiracy theories to rest,” the President tweeted. He later added that things were ahead of schedule on the release.
Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore fired back at Trump with a series of tweets for his comments about his limited-run Broadway show, The Terms of My Surrender saying, “You must have my smash hit of a Broadway show confused with your presidency which IS a total bomb and WILL indeed close early. NOT SAD.”
Moore went on to point out to Trump that a U.S. service member was killed and six were injured in Afghanistan saying “You, our President, are not even aware of this.” He added. “You ARE aware I’m a “B’way star” & I guess this bothers you more. SAD.”
He then dug into Robert Mueller’s forthcoming criminal indictments as well as Trump’s handling of the hurricane aftermath affecting Puerto Rico. And just when you thought Moore was done, he topped it off with a tweet telling Trump that Twitter is the only thing he knows how to do and how criticizing his play is a “distraction.” The final jab was a tweet that included a pic of Moore and Jared Kushner saying, “For now, at least I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support, Jared!)” Read his entire string of tweets below.
1) You must have my smash hit of a Broadway show confused with your presidency– which IS a total bomb and WILL indeed close early. NOT SAD https://t.co/URgXgzWWVk
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
2) Today, 1 U.S. service member was killed & 6 injured in our never-ending war in Afghanistan. You,our President, are not even aware of this
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
3) You ARE aware I’m a “B’way star” & I guess this bothers you more. SAD.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
4) Prosecutor Mueller’s GrandJury has just approved the 1st criminal indictments of your administration. R u trying 2 distract us from this?
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
5) 38 days after Maria, 3/4 of PR (our fellow Americans) have NO electricity. Yet u are more upset that so many ppl saw my B’way show. SAD.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
6) They say Twitter “distracts” you from your presidency. But Twitter IS YOUR PRESIDENCY! It’s all you know how to do. #LOSER!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
7) And now, for this weekend, I’m your latest distraction from your crimes. Ha! Raucous & joyous crowds every nite on B’way- & u missed out!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
8) It was the highest grossing play (non-musical) of the summer, despite my offering $29 cheap seats + free student tix so ALL could afford.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
9) As announced on May 1st, it was always a “12-WEEK-ONLY” run, due to my commitments to my upcoming primetime TV series & my new movie.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
10) On Broadway, Donald, they call it a “LIMITED ENGAGEMENT” — just like we’re planning on making your presidency.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
11) For now, at least, I know I still have one fan in the White House (thx for your unwavering support, Jared!) pic.twitter.com/mTwLxW4KgR
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017