Modern Family’s Ed O'Neill criticizes Donald Trump and questions his credibility in recent interview

Ed O'Neill, the actor best known for his role as Jay Pritchett on "Modern Family," has publicly expressed his disdain for former President Donald Trump, labeling him an "arrogant liar" during a Zoom interview with author David Pepper. The interview, later uploaded to YouTube, featured O'Neill discussing various political topics, including Trump's controversial reputation.

O'Neill shared a story about a plaque located at the 15th hole of Trump's Potomac River golf course in Lowes Island, Virginia. The plaque claims that the location was the site of the "Blood River Battle," where soldiers from both the North and South fought, turning the Potomac River red with blood. O'Neill pointed out the major flaw in this claim: "Only one problem; there was never any such battle. He made it up. Now David, what kind of a man would do that?"

The New York Times corroborated O'Neill's statement by consulting several experts, including Richard Gillespie, former director general of a historical preservation association in Virginia, who confirmed that no such battle took place near the site. The actual "Battle of Ball's Bluff" occurred 11 miles away from the river.

O'Neill's criticism of Trump extended beyond historical inaccuracies. He also expressed his disapproval of Trump ally Bill Johnson, a U.S. Representative from Ohio, who supported Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. O'Neill, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, protested Johnson's appointment as president of Youngstown University, citing Johnson's lack of experience in higher education and his alignment with Trump on controversial issues.

O'Neill criticized the university's selection process, stating, "Now we're going in with this fella [Johnson] who has no experience in higher education. He's a polarizing guy, an election denier, not the biggest fan of the gay community, he's anti-choice."