pawn-stars-rick-harrison-recalls-the-one-time-trump-apologized-to-him-this-is-all-my-fault

Sarah Johnson
March 24, 2025
Brief
Rick Harrison of 'Pawn Stars' shares his Secret Service mix-up with Donald Trump, discusses potential political ambitions, and passionately addresses the fentanyl crisis after his son's tragic death.
Rick Harrison, the colorful star of the hit show "Pawn Stars," recently opened up about an unusual moment with former President Donald Trump. In an interview on "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," Harrison shared a story about Trump personally apologizing to him after a backstage mishap involving the Secret Service. Yes, even reality TV stars get presidential oops moments.
It all went down in 2018 during a rally in Las Vegas where Harrison had been invited to introduce Trump. Harrison showed up with his son Jake and daughter Serena, and everything seemed smooth—at first. The White House staff greeted him warmly, but when they reached the backstage area, the Secret Service shut things down, saying Harrison wasn’t on the list. Ouch.
"We go backstage, and Secret Service goes, ‘He’s not on the list,’" Harrison recalled. Despite the protests from White House staff and even attempts to call senators and congressmen, Harrison and his family were turned away and ended up in the crowd, where he says they were mobbed by fans. Frustrated and embarrassed, Harrison had to leave the venue entirely.
But the story didn’t end there. While Harrison was driving home, he got a call from Senator Dean Heller, who handed the phone to Trump himself. According to Harrison, Trump immediately said, “Rick, I am really sorry. This is all my fault.” Trump blamed his staff for failing to communicate with the Secret Service and asked Harrison to return to the rally to make things right. Harrison admitted, "You’re not going to tell the President of the United States ‘no,’ right?"
While Harrison has long been a conservative voice, he has consistently dismissed political ambitions. However, he hinted during the interview that he might consider running for governor one day. "Give it a few years. I might," he said. "I know I can’t completely change the world, but I would like to leave it a better place."
Harrison also spoke about his ongoing frustration with the fentanyl crisis, which hit close to home when his son Adam tragically died of a fentanyl overdose in January 2024. He praised Trump for his interest in tackling the issue but blasted other politicians for what he sees as inaction. "It’s insane because they’re letting it happen," Harrison said. "They’re literally letting it happen. They’re not doing anything about it. So they’re complicit in all these deaths."
Harrison’s passion for addressing the crisis is palpable, as he called for stronger border policies and harsher penalties for those involved in the fentanyl trade. "Let’s make a fentanyl death rare," he said, underscoring the devastating impact of the drug.
Love him or hate him, Harrison is clearly more than just a guy running a pawn shop. From navigating Secret Service snafus to mourning the loss of his son, he’s unafraid to speak his mind on the issues that matter to him the most.
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Editor's Comments
Rick Harrison’s story is a wild mix of reality TV, politics, and personal tragedy. The fact that a sitting president called to apologize directly is definitely a headline-grabber. But what really stands out here is Harrison’s raw frustration with the fentanyl crisis. His no-nonsense approach to calling out politicians feels refreshingly unfiltered, even if it’s bound to ruffle some feathers.
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