Pat Boone, a prominent music figure from the 1950s and a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, has publicly advised the former president to adopt a more reserved approach. In a two-minute video shared online, Boone, 92, urged Trump to "be quiet," suggesting that Trump appeared to be "wearing out" and expressing concern that the former president's public statements were not becoming of his office.
Boone recalled warning Trump before his first term about using "childish insults" and sounding like "a schoolboy on the playground." He stated that Trump "did not take my advice much at the time," but now believes the former president is "very tired" and "feeling the pressure."
"Sometimes the strongest thing a leader can do is say less, listen more, and let his actions speak for themselves," Boone wrote in a social media post accompanying the video. He expressed hope that Americans would pray for Trump and encouraged him to remember the example of Ronald Reagan, characterized by "humor, courtesy, respect, and a presidential manner even in difficult times."
Boone recommended that Trump "quit talking about the things that you want to be, people to be proud of" and instead "let them discover those things for themselves." He also suggested that Trump "be polite to women" and proposed a press conference without reporters present, hoping that "the deafening roar of silence" might lead Trump to adopt a more presidential tone. Boone concluded his plea by suggesting Trump "try for just a little while to be quiet" and noted that he "may be surprised how loudly that silence speaks."