Josh Brolin Reflects on His Former Friendship With “Genius” Donald Trump

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Josh Brolin recently discussed his past friendship with Donald Trump, acknowledging Trump’s intelligence in some areas. Trump, a frequently debated political figure who has pursued several contentious policies since taking office, first met Brolin before his presidency. The encounter happened while Brolin was filming the 2010 Oliver Stone movie, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, a film about a former convict re-entering the world of finance.

Josh Brolin recently discussed his character, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, in the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. In an interview with The Independent, he was asked about the influences behind his portrayal, especially considering that Glass Onion, the previous film in the series, featured a character seemingly based on figures like Elon Musk. Brolin admitted he could say his character was inspired by the greed associated with Donald Trump, but clarified that Monsignor Wicks isn’t directly based on the former president.

The actor from Weapons mentioned the president used to be a friend, and isn’t afraid of him. He explained that the president acted differently when they were close.

Honestly, I’m not worried about Trump’s talk of staying in power forever – I just don’t see it happening. If things somehow do go that way, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. But having known him before he entered politics, I feel like I know a different side of the man than what most people see. It gives me a slightly different perspective.

Brolin doesn’t shy away from suggesting there was likely corruption in the real estate mogul’s business practices, saying, “I’m sure there was a lot of corruption involved.” He acknowledges Trump’s marketing skills, calling him a “genius” in that area, but also views the former president as simply a symbolic figurehead – a “mascot.”

He’s a marketing genius because he understands and caters to people’s insecurities. That’s why many feel such a strong connection to him – he seems to represent their need to feel understood and affirmed. It’s less about Trump himself and more about what people are looking for in a leader – a sense of validation.

Josh Brolin Is Having a Stellar 2025


Warner Bros. Pictures

Josh Brolin has publicly moved away from his friendship with Donald Trump following the end of Trump’s presidency. Interestingly, Brolin has recently taken on several acting roles that seem to draw inspiration from Trump’s persona. This is evident in films like Wake Up Dead Man and the upcoming The Running Man. He also played a corrupt religious leader in the Knives Out sequel and an untrustworthy media executive named Dan Killian in Edgar Wright’s The Running Man. Some viewers have even noted similarities between Brolin’s portrayal of Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and aspects of the former president’s public image.

Josh Brolin recently appeared in Zach Cregger’s critically acclaimed horror film, Weapons, where he plays a father desperately searching for his missing son. The film centers around the disappearance of several children. Brolin has a busy 2026 ahead with two films, Whalefall and The Dog Stars, currently in post-production. He’s also expected to return as Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three.

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2025-12-02 02:06