Josh Brolin Reflects on Past Friendship with Donald Trump

Actor Josh Brolin has shared insights about his former friendship with President Donald Trump, explaining how their relationship evolved over time. In an interview that delves deep into this connection, Brolin describes meeting Trump before he entered politics and the changes he observed as Trump transitioned from business to national prominence.

The two celebrities first crossed paths after Brolin appeared in the 2010 film “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” At the time of their initial encounter, which predated Trump’s presidential run by more than a decade, Trump was best known for his real estate ventures and television career. This early phase of the entertainer’s life influenced Brolin’s perspective on him during those formative years.

“Trump takes the weakness of the general population and fills it,” explains Brolin about Trump’s approach to leadership. “And that’s why I think a lot of people feel that they have a mascot in him.” The actor suggests that Trump’s enduring appeal stems more from this perception than specifically from his own policies or actions.

Despite their early rapport, the friendship eventually faded as Trump became focused solely on politics. Brolin has publicly distanced himself from Trump’s political persona and presidency altogether. This shift occurred notably during Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign when Brolin made a clear break with any previous connection they had established years earlier.

Brolin expressed surprise about the direction of Trump’s career development, particularly regarding his business decisions in New York during the late ’70s which he described as “interesting” but unregulated. He also commented on the current political climate surrounding debates over presidential term limits:

Trump has teased that he would consider a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment barring any president from serving more than two.

Brolin doesn’t see those statements as particularly serious or indicative of policy direction, focusing instead on how Trump’s presence continues to resonate with his supporters regardless of whether they knew him before entering public life.