Knives Out 3’s Josh Brolin Explains Former Friendship With Trump

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Josh Brolin is reminiscing about his past friendship with Donald Trump, from before Trump became president.

The actor from Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery first met Donald Trump while filming Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps in 2010. Although Trump had a role in the movie, it was ultimately cut before the final version was released.

Brolin was asked in an interview with The Independent if his character, Monsignor Wicks – a boastful and clueless priest in Knives Out 3 – was inspired by Donald Trump. He firmly denied it, stating that any suggestion of Trump being a source of inspiration for the character would be false. He jokingly added that he could fabricate a story about the character being motivated by ‘Trumpian greed,’ but it wouldn’t be true.

Brolin admitted he wasn’t scared of his old friend, even with all the trouble his time in office had caused. He also acknowledged that while he’d previously talked about staying in power indefinitely, he didn’t really believe that would happen, and if it did, he’d simply handle it. He pointed out that he was a very different person when they were friends than he is now.

I don’t fear Trump, despite his claims of remaining in power indefinitely. I’m confident that won’t happen, but if it does, I’ll face it when the time comes. Having known him before his presidency, I’m familiar with a side of him that most people aren’t.

Brolin described his initial interactions with the businessman as surprisingly calm, a contrast to the aggressive image Trump often projects in politics. While he suspects Trump’s business dealings involved a lot of corruption, Brolin remained impressed by what Trump achieved. He feels the man he once knew is now almost unrecognizable. He explained that Trump now operates with “unlimited and unchecked power.”

Although Josh Brolin has criticized President Trump, he acknowledges the president’s strengths. He subtly praised Trump’s skills in marketing and business, and noted his ability to connect with and energize his followers, describing him as a kind of symbol for them.

He’s a marketing genius because he understands and caters to people’s insecurities. That’s why many see him as a symbol of their own desires and need to feel important – it’s less about him personally, and more about what people are looking for in general.

I’m so excited to finally see Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery! It’s in a few theaters now, but if I miss it there, I know I can stream it on Netflix starting December 12, 2025.

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2025-11-30 03:58