In a few months, people the world over will know whether Kamala Harris (stepping in for thenow-dropped-out President Joe Biden) will be president of the United States, or ifDonald Trumpwill…again. It’s crushingly real-world stuff, and it dominates just about everyone’s thoughts. Movies are, well, not real-world stuff. And, yet, when it comes to America’s most controversial president, there are definite throughlines.
Some movie characters just reek of Trump. This is applicable to many movies that hit screens before he held office for the first and, hopefully, only time. In fact, some even predate his celebrity viaThe Apprentice,The Art of the Deal, or thattime he had an Eagle snap at himin his office.
It doesn’t mean they were inspired by him but, the truth is, some quite iconic characters have been modeled on Trump over the years. That said, they were never quite the altruistic protagonist type. For instance,Homelander fromThe Boyshas, over time, become increasingly inspired by the real-life deceptive, racist antics and vocabulary of the former president.
The characters that follow didn’t necessarily take inspiration from Trump, but some do. What binds them all is the eerie sense of familiarity the viewer gets when they watch them.
20Auric Goldfinger in Goldfinger (1964)
Eitherthe best 007 film(or the second best if one prefersCasino Royale),Goldfingerholds up quite nicely. And the antagonist’s actor, Gert Fröbe, was a pretty interesting guy. He joined the Nazi Party when he was 16, but left it before the start of WWII. And, not only did he turn his back on the Nazis, he hid a Jewish man and his mother from them. AKA likely not something Trump would do. That said, unlike the actor, the character he played in the Bond movie has certain resemblances to Trump.
Goldfinger
He Even Kind of Looks Like Him
It’s not just because Auric Goldfinger is more focused on cash over any discernible reverence for ethics that he’s on this list. Though the fact that he poisons his associates does read pretty true to Trump’s definition of business brilliance. His portly frame and super-blond hair seal the comparison deal.
19Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future Trilogy
One of theultimate movie trilogies, Robert Zemeckis’Back to the Future, also features one of the 1980s' most iconic antagonists: Thomas F. Wilson’s Biff Tannen. And, according to Bob Gale, who co-wrote the trilogy alongside Zemeckis,they were outright thinking about Trumpwhen they crafted the character. This is especially apparent inBack to the Future Part II.
Spot-On for a Reason
In terms of the trilogy in general, Biff’s a bully and so is Trump. But, in terms ofPart II, Biff has an exceedingly jerky portrait made of himself, and quite often stares at it. Not to mention, the character’s primary goal inPart IIis to take a sports history book back to the past and then cheat the system by betting on every game that takes between the ’80s and 2015. That’s pretty darn Trumpian. As is Biff’s barely-clinging-to-the-skull hair.
18Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York
While not quite the verybest Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese collaboration,Gangs of New Yorkis nonetheless a stylish and well-acted period piece. This is especially true of Daniel Day-Lewis' entrancing and frightening work as Bill the Butcher. A well-spoken bigot with a particular hatred of the Irish, Butcher’s actions in the jaw-dropping opening fight sequence are what kicks the narrative into motion.
Gangs of New York
Old School Xenophobic
But, really, what sets the narrative’s events into motion is the aforementioned bigotry that courses through his veins. Just swap out the Irish for Mexicans and Bill’s rise to power is identical to Trump’s. That said, he has said he loves Hispanics at least once, as long as the group in reference is making taco bowls in Trump Tower Grill (which should absolutely be named The Art of the Grill).
17Cal Hockley in Titanic
Smarmy, greedy, and entirely ignorant of anyone’s problems other than his own,Titanic’s Cal Hockley is basically just the handsome variation of the United States' oh-so-beloved Burger King-scarfing former Commander-in-Chief. Beloved by many and, over time,dismissed by quite a few, James Cameron’s romantic epic is still one of the popular director’s best. At the very least, it certainly features Billy Zane’s best performance.
Pretty Gropy, Too
Caledon Hockley is the heir to a steel fortune. Trump was the heir to a fortune. That’s one. But the big connection is the fact that Cal views and treats women like possessions. Trump has a history of doing the same. After all, there’s that inflammatoryAccess Hollywoodsoundbite which, oddly enough, did little to absolutely nothing to dissuade Trump’s supposedly Christian base.
16Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter Films
TheHarry Pottercinematic saga is filled with lovable characters but, alongside Voldemort, Draco Malfoy is the diametric opposite. Born into a wealthy family and far from hesitant to flaunt that, he’s as arrogant as a wizard gets. He’s also widely dismissive of anyone who he deems inferior to (or even just different from) himself.
Not a Great Family
But, he’s also just a scared little boy (regardless of age) who never got the love he thought he deserved. It’s not an excuse, it’s just one more thing that ties Draco to Trump. Kind of like his bullying nature and tumultuous relationship with his father.
15Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
For one,Beauty and the Beast’s Gaston is almost certainly what Trump thinks he looks like in his own head. Two, if Trump has seen the film, he almost certainly thinks Gaston is a winner. Three, he almost certainly thinks the titular Beast is a loser.
Beauty and the Beast
Another Groper
Gaston is the animated rendition of pure smarmy arrogance. His definition of romance is also basically to flex his muscles and strong arm a woman into marriage. Plus, he’s a hunter, so provided he’s killed a rhino, he’s got a little Trump Jr. in him too.
14Gordon Gekko in Wall Street
It’s honestly surprising the political cult leader himself has never himself called greed “good.” It’s clearly a sentiment he agrees with. It makes one wonder if he’s ever even seen what is arguably Oliver Stone’s best (AKA least preachy) film,Wall Street.
Wall Street
Yeah, He’s Greedy
There was no better year forWall Streetto hit theaters. After all, it was the same year asThe Art of the Dealstunk up book store shelves. If there’s any character on this list who’s a perfect stand in for pre-presidency Trump, it’s Gordon Gekko.
Jon Voight on Being Hollywood’s Most Outspoken Trump Supporter
The Oscar-winning acting legend isn’t shying away from his political views.
13Harry Ellis in Die Hard
Theultimate Christmas action movieand, well, the ultimate action movie in general,Die Hardis a wildly entertaining and tightly-constructed masterpiece. It also features one of the best cinema jerks in the form of Hart Bochner’s Harry Ellis.
A coke-addled sleazeball who works alongside John McClane’s wife, Holly Gennero, at Nakatomi Plaza, Ellis is the type of person who puts his trust in the wrong people, all the while thinking he’s winning in the process.The Art of the Dealcame out one year beforeDie Hard’s release, so it’s really just a wonder the Nakatomi executive doesn’t have a copy of it under his newest line of nose candy.
The Cinematic Face of Opportunism
Ellis tries to serve as the negotiation middleman between Hans Gruber and McClane. It cost him his life. Given his constant praise of dictators such as Vladimir Putin (and his much self-touted adept prowess in doing so), one can see a bit of Trump in that scene. Also, every time Ellis opens his mouth in general.
12Jurors #3, #7, and #10 in 12 Angry Men
A classiceven after nearly 70 years,12 Angry Menremains an insightful look at what makes one person different from another. But, of the dozen titular men, a quarter of them have Trumpian qualities. First, there’s Juror #3, who bullies others to agree with him, even if he has no idea whether he’s actually objectively correct.
12 Angry Men
What a Group
Then there are Jurors #7 and #10. Similar in their racism but different in their disposition, they also occasionally reek of Trump. #7 is rich and opinionated, and even views this particular aspect of the justice system as somewhat beneath him. #10 is basically the same, but he’s older, and seems to think his life’s been a waste unless he can win, win, win.
11Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2
Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer was the best part ofIron Man 2, and one of the MCU’s best secondary villains to this day. And, yet, also to this day, he was a one-off. It’s a shame, but there’s a chancehe’ll return inArmor Wars.
Iron Man 2
Cheapo Trinket Peddler
Unlike a Trump return to the White House, Rockwell’s return to the MCU would be a welcome one. It’ll be interesting how that happens, too, now that Hammer’s a felon (like Trump). So, he won’t be constantly profiting off the military-industrial complex, without ever having served.
