Hollywood actor Josh Brolin praised President Donald Trump’s marketing instincts in a Saturday interview with The Independent.
Brolin said he was friendly with Trump long before his presidency and described him as “a different guy.” He also highlighted Trump’s business acumen, telling the outlet “there is no greater genius than him in marketing — he takes the weakness of the general population and fills it,” according to The Independent. (RELATED: White House Unveils Dazzling 2025 Christmas Theme)
Brolin also weighed in on Trump’s political appeal, saying many supporters see him less as a traditional leader and more as a symbol.
IN FLIGHT – NOVEMBER 25: President Donald Trump speaks to the media aboard Air Force One on November 25, 2025 in flight en route to Florida. The Trumps are traveling to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
“And that’s why I think a lot of people feel that they have a mascot in him,” he said, adding the dynamic is “much less about Trump than it is about the general population and their need for validation.”
Brolin first met Trump after starring in “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” which had planned to include a Trump cameo.
US actor Josh Brolin attends the New York Premiere of Paramount’s “The Running Man” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City on November 09, 2025. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Brolin has since distanced himself from his earlier admiration for Trump and criticized the president’s policy agenda. He pointed to disagreements over immigration and its impact on children, saying those issues pushed him away politically.
The actor also told the outlet he does not expect Trump to win another term in office.
