Woody Allen must have had a sixth sense when he directed Donald Trump to play himself in the 1998 film Celebrity. In that movie, Trump had a small role as himself. In one scene directed by Allen, Trump talks to a television reporter about his future plans. The ensemble film, which features actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, showcases a moment that has since drawn attention due to Trump’s later political career.
In looking back and putting his time next to Trump, Allen even called Trump a great actor. He described Trump as “a pleasure to work with and a very good actor,” noting the “charismatic quality” he brought to the camera. Allen recalled that Trump was “pleasant, very professional, very polite,” underscoring how well he performed in the scripted scene.
During the film, Trump humorously claims he is “working on buying St Patrick’s Cathedral. Maybe doing a little rip-down job and putting up a very, very tall and beautiful building.” This playful banter highlights Trump’s flair for show business, which Allen noted, stating, “He was very polite, hit his mark, did everything correctly and had a real flair for show business.”
Allen expressed surprise at Trump’s decision to enter politics, stating that he finds politics to be “nothing but headaches and critical decisions and agony.” Though he conceded that he had great respect for Trump as an acting shill, he was sure to make his political apostasy clear. “I disagree with many, almost all, not all, but almost all of [Trump’s] politics,” he remarked.
Despite their differing views, Allen suggested that if given the opportunity, he would like to direct Trump again now that he has assumed the presidency. I’d love to have him guide things now as president and put me in charge of making the decisions. But that’s not gonna happen,” he lamented.
On the topic of his political leanings, when asked about who he voted for, Allen admitted that he voted for Kamala Harris in this past 2024 presidential election. His comments come after widespread condemnation of his trip to the Moscow-based film festival. With the current state of geopolitics, this seemingly controversial choice raises some serious eyebrows.
“When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I believe strongly that Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong.” – Woody Allen