Dick Van Dyke, 98, says he’s 'fortunate' he won’t be around for Trump’s second term

At 98, Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke is finding humor in his advancing years and the political climate. While out with his wife Arlene Silver, 52, the 'Mary Poppins' star made a lighthearted comment about President-elect Donald Trump’s recent victory. 

When asked by a paparazzo if “the future looks bright for America,” Van Dyke, who initially didn’t hear the question, responded after a prompt from his wife, “I hope you’re right!” When pressed further on Trump’s potential to “make America great again,” Van Dyke gave a wry response: “Fortunately I won’t be around to experience the four years,” he quipped with a smile.

The acting legend subtly voiced his support for Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, just before the election. In a post on his Instagram, Van Dyke recited a poignant speech by 'Twilight Zone' writer Rod Serling that he had first delivered alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964. 

Reflecting on the years since, he noted, “It’s not what Martin Luther King dreamed of but it’s a start.” Though he didn’t mention Trump or Harris directly, he tagged Harris’s campaign and vice-presidential Instagram accounts and encouraged followers to “VOTE!!!”

Van Dyke’s reflections on his age have become a signature part of his humor. When asked in September about missing the Primetime Emmy Awards, the comedy great smiled and said, “I feel old.” Looking ahead to his 99th birthday on December 13, he quipped about his plans: “Just praying that I make it.” 

Despite age-related health challenges that kept him from events like Salt Lake City’s FanX convention in September, Van Dyke still attended the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys, where he shared that he hopes to be remembered “for laughter.”