Comedian and actor Tim Allen has shared a remarkable story about the moment he convinced former US President Donald Trump to abandon his aspirations of becoming a Hollywood film producer.
The Pivotal Dinner Conversation
The 72-year-old star of The Santa Clause recounted the tale during an appearance on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast. Allen recalled a dinner with Trump before his entry into politics, while the businessman was still the star of the reality TV show The Apprentice.
"He was thinking of moving to Los Angeles and being a movie producer, and he was talking about movies," Allen remembered. Trump expressed a deep fondness for the film business and a particular addiction to comedy, marvelling at Allen's own comedic talent.
A Stark Financial Reality Check
The conversation took a decisive turn when the discussion turned to budgets. Allen explained that when Trump floated a hypothetical film budget of $100 million, the actor immediately advised him to at least double that figure to account for promotion and marketing.
"He goes: 'What if the ticket sales are slow?'" Allen continued. "You lose!" was the actor's blunt reply. Allen elaborated on the harsh economics of Hollywood, explaining to Trump that studios amortise losses from flops against their occasional blockbuster hits.
"He completely decided at that moment, I'm not gonna get in this business," Allen stated. Trump reportedly contrasted the film industry with his property experience, noting, "If I buy a bad building, and it won't sell, I still have the building. If you have a shitty movie..." Allen agreed, concluding, "No, this is not an easy business."
Trump's Continued Hollywood Influence
Despite this early aversion to film financing, Trump has maintained a connection to the industry. In November 2025, it was reported that Paramount is developing Rush Hour 4 after Trump personally pushed to revive the buddy-cop franchise.
The project, which will see the return of original stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, is being directed and produced by Brett Ratner. Paramount will distribute the film theatrically on behalf of Warner Bros, following a report by Deadline.
The original Rush Hour film, released in 1998, was a major box office success, spawning sequels that achieved even greater commercial results.
