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Trump doubles down on attack of Oscar-winning movie Parasite at Las Vegas rally

For a second day the president asks crowds of supprters: 'What's that all about?'

Phil Thomas
New York
Friday 21 February 2020 16:36 EST
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Donald Trump launches fresh attack on Parasite at MAGA rally

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Donald Trump has doubled down on his criticism of the South Korean thriller Parasite winning best film at this year's Oscars, bringing the subject up early in a rally for the second day in a row.

Speaking to crowds in Las Vegas he once again asked why the film had been awarded Hollywood's biggest accolade earlier this month.

Parasite became the first ever foreign language film to win best picture.

Having invited members of the 1980 US Olympic ice hockey team on to the stage, Mr Trump once again suggested he serve another 12 years – although he is limited to a maximum of two four-year terms – something he has been criticised in the media for saying in the past.

He said: "Twelve more years – look at the press, hey Mike, look at the fake news back there. It's a lot. I always say that's like the Academy Awards used to be.

"This year we had a movie, they said best movie. And they announced a movie from South Korea. I said what's that all about? The movie was made in South Korea. Look, I get along great with South Korea, but you know I never saw that one before.

"They used to call it best foreign movie. But now we do it that way. I don't get it. But that's what it used to be."

It was the second day in a row that the president had spent time criticising the movie, which has taken the awards season by storm.

Speaking in Colorado Springs the previous day, he imitated an announcer as he told the crowd: "And the winner is ... a movie from South Korea. What the hell was that all about? We've got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that they give them the best movie of the year? Was it good? I don't know.

"You know I'm looking for, like, where .... Let's get Gone with the Wind? Can we get, like, Gone with the Wind back please? Sunset Boulevard ... so many great movies.

"The winner is ... from South Korea. I thought it was best foreign film, right? Best foreign movie! No, it was the ... did this ever happen before?"

Neon, Parasite's US distributor, hit back at the president's criticism of the subtitled film, tweeting: "Understandable, he can't read."

In his freewheeling monologue in Las Vegas on Friday, Mr Trump returned to the subject of Parasite, and once again asked to "bring back" Gone with the Wind. He also insulted Brad Pitt again, as he had the previous evening. In Colorado Springs he had dubbed the Oscar-winning actor a "little wiseguy"; in Las Vegas he called him a "stiff".

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