Reality television personality Spencer Pratt said during a recent CNN appearance that concerns over personal safety and frustration with leadership in Los Angeles helped shape both his Republican views and his unexpected entry into politics.
Pratt appeared Wednesday on “The Story Is” with Elex Michaelson, where he discussed his Los Angeles mayoral campaign and the events that led him from reality TV fame into public life.
Known for appearing on shows including The Hills, Pratt said his deeper involvement in politics came after losing his home in the 2025 Palisades fires. He pointed to what he described as mismanagement in Los Angeles following the disaster, particularly criticism surrounding rebuilding efforts and questions over the response from Mayor Karen Bass.
During the interview, however, Pratt said his political shift toward the Republican Party began years earlier during the height of his reality television notoriety. According to Pratt, intense backlash from viewers led to repeated death threats serious enough that security personnel and law enforcement advised him to purchase firearms for protection.
Pratt described Los Angeles as dangerous for public figures who become widely disliked and said he and his wife ultimately decided to obtain firearms and concealed carry permits for self-defense.
“That was what I aligned with,” Pratt explained, referring to Republican support for concealed carry rights and the Second Amendment. “My safety, my personal safety, my family’s safety.”
Pratt emphasized that he followed legal procedures and firearm training requirements, framing the decision as one rooted in protection rather than politics alone. He acknowledged that gun rights remain a divisive issue but argued his experiences changed the way he viewed personal security and government policy.
Michaelson noted during the interview that a CCW refers to a legal permit to carry a concealed weapon in California. Pratt responded that Republicans were the political group he felt most supportive of that right.
At the same time, Pratt attempted to balance his pro-gun stance with a tougher approach to public safety, saying he would support having LAPD officers stationed outside schools to help protect children from gun violence.
The exchange highlighted the increasingly unusual coalition forming within parts of American politics, where concerns over crime, public safety, and distrust in local leadership are reshaping political identities in states traditionally dominated by Democrats.
When asked who his political role model was, Pratt answered simply: Jesus Christ.
Pratt later clarified that he does not consider himself a traditional politician and insisted he has little interest in becoming part of the political establishment. Instead, he described himself as someone who wants to “fight for the people.”
Although Pratt briefly remarked that he felt “most similar” to former President Barack Obama, he said he is not actively modeling himself after modern political figures.
His comments come as Los Angeles continues facing scrutiny over public safety, rebuilding delays, and broader concerns about leadership priorities at a time when many Americans are increasingly focused on problems closer to home rather than endless political battles and conflicts abroad.
[READ MORE: Lauren Boebert Dismisses Trump Primary Threat After Backing Thomas Massie]
