‘Yellowstone’ Creator Taylor Sheridan Blasts Colorado Court Removing Trump From Ballot

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives for a rally in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 5, 2024. Scott Olson/Getty Images

In what’s a rarity for powerhouse TV producer Taylor Sheridan, the filmmaker made a political comment to podcaster Joe Rogan last week, criticizing the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot.

Mr. Sheridan’s remarks occurred during “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Jan. 4, in which he lambasted the court for its recent ruling that the former president should be eliminated from the state’s 2024 election ballot.

Mr. Sheridan, 53, is co-creator of the hit show ”Yellowstone,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” and “Tulsa King,” among others. While his shows are known for their astute depiction of their characters’ behavioral psychology and the traversing of social hierarchies within and outside of families, Mr. Sheridan isn’t known for sharing his political leanings.

Yet, while appearing on Rogan’s show, Mr. Sheridan called the court’s move “dangerous.”

“People can think of Donald Trump however they want to think of Donald Trump. It really doesn’t matter who the individual is,” Mr. Sheridan said. “A court in Colorado is going to essentially make a decision based upon a trial that has not happened yet. They’re basically saying he’s guilty of something he hasn’t been tried for, and they’re removing him from a ballot.”

The writer/director went on to emphasize that the court has set a very dangerous precedent.

Court Should Look Deeper at Ruling

“Right now, maybe, the Democrats feel they are justified in that action because they’re so terrified of what Donald Trump may do if he becomes president again, but are they thinking about what’s going to happen in 20 years or 30 years because this has now been established?” he asked.

The “1883” creator then went on to point out past elections where voters challenged their results, specifically the 2000 election.

“People had forgotten that Al Gore and the Democratic Party—and I didn’t vote for George W. Bush—they contested that election then. They said it was rigged. They took it to the Supreme Court. We didn’t have a president, really, for almost two months,” he said.

Mr. Sheridan’s chatter with Rogan comes as the mega-successful storyteller has had a stellar year professionally in 2023. That’s despite the future of his signature series, ”Yellowstone,” falling into question after reports that star Kevin Costner was looking to leave the series.

He had hit follow-ups in “Yellowstone” prequels ”1883” and ”1923,” a pair of shows that followed the history of the Dutton family from before the modern era in which ”Yellowstone” is set.

The Western TV series “1923” in particular is the second sequel to the popular show and follows the Dutton family as it runs the Dutton ranch. It stars Hollywood heavyweights Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton, the leaders of the family.

In January, Mr. Sheridan was awarded a prestigious medallion by Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton for the TV producer’s efforts to tell the tale of American history from the perspective of Native Americans, according to a story by Breitbart.

Batton presented a medallion to him “for his commitment to telling the Native American story in his shows.”

“So honored to be able to meet Taylor Sheridan tonight and present him a medallion from Choctaw Nation for his commitment to telling the Native American story in his shows,” Batton said in a Facebook post that featured photos of him presenting the medallion to Mr. Sheridan.

The Chief went on to say that the “Yellowstone” show creator had explained to him that he made a promise to himself to tell the stories of the Native Americans, after they had helped him during a time in his life when he was “broke and alone.”

Sheridan: An American Success Story

It’s been quite a journey from where Mr. Sheridan was 12 years ago as a struggling actor down to his last $800 before selling his first screenplay, according to a June 2023 piece in the Hollywood Reporter.

As reported by the Hollywood trade: “He later created a TV show about a man who owns a dynastic mega-ranch who struggles to protect it and make it successful … and its success has allowed Mr. Sheridan to himself become a man who owns a dynastic mega-ranch who struggles to protect it and make it successful — and not just any ranch, but the same one that served as the basis for his show..”

“Sheridan dreamed up a story, shared it with millions, and then stepped into it,” it continued.

“Life imitating art was never my intention,” said Mr. Sheridan in the piece written by James Hibberd. “We haven’t killed anyone in weeks,” he quipped.