Spencer Pratt reposted a CNN segment comparing his Los Angeles mayoral bid to Donald Trump’s 2016 run, reigniting debate over his campaign approach.
Spencer Pratt is embracing the chatter, reposting a CNN segment that draws a straight line between his Los Angeles mayoral campaign and Donald Trump’s 2016 political surge.
In the clip reposted on Sunday. Caroline Sunshine—described in the report as a former communications aide tied to Trump’s 2024 run—argued that Pratt “could be the next mayor of Los Angeles. ” then explained why the comparison resonated with her.. She pointed to a familiar political storyline. noting how the pattern often goes from being ignored to being laughed at. then challenged. and eventually victorious.. Her bottom line was blunt: Pratt, she said, “has all the makings.”
Pratt shared the CNN segment Saturday afternoon on his X account, turning a cable-news comparison into its own campaign moment. The repost also landed as he continues to lean into a populist pitch that has helped lift his visibility and polling, according to the report.
The campaign context behind those comparisons matters.. Pratt, the reality TV star-turned-mayoral candidate, has said he entered politics after his home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.. Since then. sources indicate his message has increasingly centered on aggressive attacks aimed at his top rivals—incumbent Karen Bass and progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman—along with criticism of Gov.. Gavin Newsom.
Sunshine expanded on the performance elements of the matchup. arguing Pratt carries “outsider. anti-establishment energy” and is skilled at harnessing attention.. She also suggested that his visibility is being amplified by his ability to operate outside the traditional political machinery. including the fact that he is not running with party support and is described as lacking a large staff or a dedicated campaign office.
In her view, that lean setup may be giving him speed.. Sunshine described Pratt’s campaign as “nimble. agile” and credited the possibility of a small. fast-moving team for avoiding the slow rhythms of larger. consultant-heavy operations.. She tied the idea directly to Trump’s 2016 playbook. emphasizing how a streamlined approach can move quicker than more bloated structures.
The segment also zeroed in on how Pratt performs on debates and on social media. comparing his sharp tone to what Sunshine called the Trump model.. She acknowledged that some people dislike his politically “incorrect” comments. but framed the reactions as part of a larger media strategy—particularly when controversy is used as fuel rather than a warning sign.
Sunshine specifically referenced a debate moment that drew strong criticism.. The report says she pointed to Pratt’s suggestion that Raman ask people living under the freeway for the kind of treatment they could expect. described as involving fear of violence.. In the clip. Sunshine then used a real-world example from Venice. California to argue that Pratt’s comments reflect the realities being discussed by the public.
Not everyone agreed that the approach is helping him.. Brian Tyler Cohen. host of the “No Lie With Brian Tyler Cohen” podcast. supported the comparison in concept but challenged the idea that it is working to Pratt’s advantage.. He questioned what could possibly go right for a longtime reality figure who talks bluntly. knows how to game media attention. and then decides to pursue office.
Cohen’s concern was rooted in the current political climate.. The report says he argued Pratt’s odds would seem less compelling if Donald Trump’s approval rating were not what it is. and if Trump had not already been widely described—within Cohen’s remarks—as having been exposed as a con artist after promising to be a populist champion.. Cohen also referenced the ongoing impact of higher prices for everyday people. positioning it as a factor that complicates the “populist energy” argument.
The report concluded by noting that the full exchange is available in the video shared alongside the coverage, leaving viewers to weigh whether Pratt’s Trump-style controversy-and-attention strategy is a winning formula—or a risky bet in Los Angeles politics.
Spencer Pratt Los Angeles mayor race CNN segment Donald Trump 2016 comparison Caroline Sunshine X repost Brian Tyler Cohen