Hollywood star Josh Brolin has offered a rare personal insight into Donald Trump, describing the former US President as a 'different guy' before he entered the political arena and labelling him a marketing genius.
A Friendship Forged on a Film Set
The actor made these remarks during an interview with The Independent to promote his upcoming film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Brolin revealed he first met the future president back in 2009 while filming Oliver Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, in which he played stock trader Bretton James.
Trump spent a day on set filming a cameo for the movie, though his scene was ultimately cut from the final version. It was during this time that the two men became acquainted.
The 'Unmitigated Power' of a Marketing Genius
Reflecting on Trump's subsequent political rise, Brolin did not hold back in his analysis of the former president's tactics. 'There is no greater genius than him in marketing,' Brolin stated bluntly.
He elaborated further, suggesting Trump's skill lies in identifying and exploiting public sentiment. 'He takes the weakness of the general population and fills it,' the actor said. 'And that’s why I think a lot of people feel that they have a mascot in him. I think it’s much less about Trump than it is about the general population and their need for validation.'
Brolin expressed concern over the nature of Trump's influence, noting he now wields 'power unmitigated, it’s unregulated'.
'I Know a Different Guy' and Have No Fear
Despite the strong critique, Brolin distinguished between the political figure and the man he once knew. 'Having been a friend of Trump before he was president, I know a different guy,' he revealed, hinting at a more personal side to the controversial leader.
When asked if he feared Trump, the actor was unequivocal. 'I'm not scared of him,' Brolin asserted. 'Because even though he says he’s staying for ever, it’s just not going to happen. And if it does, then I’ll deal with that moment.'
He even drew a subtle parallel between Trump and his new clergyman character in the Knives Out sequel, noting that while the role is not based on the president, there is a similarity in how both figures behave once they 'garner a sense of power', leading to a state where 'there are no boundaries'.
Brolin's candid comments provide a unique perspective from within the entertainment world on one of the most polarising figures in modern politics, blending personal recollection with sharp political observation.
