The conservative commentator and actress have spent the past month publicly sparring online over political differences.
Hollywood and politics are at odds in a simmering, monthlong online spat between Meghan McCain—conservative political commentator and daughter of the late Senator John McCain—and actress Carrie Coon, who portrays a liberal lawyer in HBO’s The White Lotus.
Newsweek has reached out to McCain via social media and Coon through email to United Talent Agency on Saturday.Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has long been a polarizing figure in American politics and business, with many supporters viewing him extremely favorably while others expressing strong dislike for the president.
Television and film often serve as mediums for political discourse, embedding cultural commentary in characters’ dialogue and behavior.What Sparked Meghan McCain’s Feud With Carrie Coon?
The McCain-Coon feud started a month ago, when McCain posted on X, formerly Twitter, an overwhelming positive response to Trump’s joint congressional address.
In a March 4 post, she wrote: «This is the first time I can remember crying during a state of the union. Thank you President Trump. This is so beautiful. Anyone who has been impacted by brain cancer knows how special this is.»
Meghan’s father died from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in August 2018.
Coon, who portrays Laurie—one of the central characters in the trio of friends in The White Lotus—responded to McCain’s post the following day, writing: «Who’s gonna tell her?» likely in response to the recent congressional spending bill that slashed funding for the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, which directly reduced federal support for glioblastoma research.
McCain then shared a screenshot of Laurie’s friend Kate in White Lotus, played by Leslie Bibb, smirking in the scene where it’s revealed to her friends she voted for Trump.
The former co-host of The View said she did not vote for Trump in 2024, instead writing in her late father. Speaking with Katie Couric in November, McCain explained, «I just can never vote for Trump.
