Tense exchange
Now, Dane’s legacy lives on in unforgettable performances, fan memories, and iconic TV moments that are still quoted today. And now, following the tragic news of his death, the actor’s words on Trump have resurfaced, reminding fans of the late actor’s fearless willingness to speak his mind — both on and off screen.
Back in 2016, Dane got caught up in a tense exchange on Twitter with his former boss, Shonda Rhimes, after a video surfaced showing Trump making lewd comments about women in 2005.
Rhimes, the mastermind behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder, had tweeted her frustration with men who justified their silence about Trump by citing that they had wives, daughters, or mothers.
“Men, stop with ‘we have wives, daughters’ as reason not to condone his actions,” Rhimes wrote. “You don’t condone his acts because you know right from wrong.”
”C’mon folks, are you crazy?”
Dane, who played Dr. Mark Sloan — aka “McSteamy” — on Grey’s Anatomy until 2012, responded a few hours later with a pointed tweet of his own, though not directly replying to Rhimes:
“How ’bout this — f*ck @realDonaldTrump and I could give no fux about @shondarhimes opinion. My wife and 2 girls. He needs to b btch slapped.”
The tweet immediately went viral, and Rhimes’ reaction mirrored much of the internet’s: a simple, confused “um?”
Dane later clarified that his outrage was entirely directed at Trump and not Rhimes. He doubled down in subsequent tweets:
“Settle down people I luv @shondarhimes. But @realDonaldTrump? C’mon folks, are you crazy? Are you really supporting this a—? Wake the fuk up.”
“Don’t be confused… it all makes sense to me,” he added, according to People.
Took action himself
It’s clear that Eric Dane was far from a fan of Donald Trump.
There was even a political connection, as some of Trump’s policies had the potential to impact ALS research funding in the U.S. According to The Post-Standard, the Trump administration’s budget included significant cuts to biomedical research, which could have affected ALS studies.
Dane took action himself, traveling to Capitol Hill to meet with representatives and senators from both parties. He told lawmakers that he was determined to fight for ALS research “to the last breath.”
In the final years of his life, Dane found it deeply rewarding to work with the nonprofit I AM ALS, founded by ALS patients Brian Wallach and his wife Sandra Abrevaya, both former White House staffers under President Barack Obama. Dane became a spokesperson for the organization, helping raise awareness of the devastating disease and advocating for more research and funding.
According to the organization, around 30,000 Americans live with ALS, and the average survival after diagnosis is only two to five years.
Today, Dane’s voice, his advocacy, and his willingness to speak openly about ALS continue to inspire people around the world. May he rest in peace.