Donald Trump's Former Friend Made a Controversial Statement About the President

A former friend of Donald Trump reflects on their past, offers an unexpected take on the public's loyalty to him, and shares thoughts sparked by a new film role.

He shared conversations, admiration, and even professional ties with Donald Trump before the political rise. But now, one of Hollywood's most recognizable actors is offering an unflinching reflection on a man he once knew well.

In a recent interview tied to his latest film, the actor opened up about his personal history with Donald, revealing a complex mix of detachment, perspective, and wary recognition.

The Scene That Was Cut and the Connection That Stayed

"I'm not scared of Trump, because even though he says he's staying forever, it's just not going to happen. And if it does, then I'll deal with that moment," he said. "But having been a friend of Trump before he was president, I know a different guy."

Their relationship began after the actor starred in Oliver Stone's "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps" in 2010. Donald had filmed a cameo for the sequel, but the scene was never included in the final cut.

Director Oliver Stone later described Donald's performance as awkwardly self-assured. "After every take, [Trump] jumped up and he said, 'Wasn't that great?!' And I said, 'Honestly, no.' The confidence is unbelievable," he shared.

Despite the brief interaction, the actor admitted he was once intrigued by Donald's early ventures, particularly the construction of a $400 million hotel in what he called a "cesspool city during the late 70s."

"There was a lot of corruption involved," he noted, yet saw the move as an audacious gamble. "Now it's power unmitigated, it's unregulated," he said of Donald's evolution since then.

No Deliberate Parallels but Familiar Patterns

Josh Brolin, a former friend of Donald's known for his roles in "No Country for Old Men," "Dune," and as Thanos in Marvel's "Avengers" films, made his comments during an interview promoting his new movie.

"Wake Up Dead Man" is an upcoming murder mystery in which he plays Monsignor Wicks, a divisive preacher in a rural upstate New York community. While the character has drawn comparisons to Donald, the actor insisted any similarities were coincidental.

"I could make something up and say it was rooted in a kind of Trumpian greed" — but it wasn't, he explained. Still, he admitted, once Wicks "garners a sense of power, then there are no boundaries."

A Stark Look at Trump's Popularity

He didn't stop at personal history. When asked about Donald's enduring influence, the actor offered a blunt observation on the psychology of Donald's support.

"There is no greater genius than him in marketing — he takes the weakness of the general population and fills it," he stated. "And that's why I think a lot of people feel that they have a mascot in him. I think it's much less about Trump than it is about the general population and their need for validation."

New Documents Reignite Epstein–Trump Questions

As Josh's remarks shed new light on Donald's past, another controversy is resurfacing — and dragging the president back into the headlines.

Newly uncovered emails from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, released by House Democrats, have sparked renewed outrage. The correspondence hints at deeper ties between Jeffrey and Donald — and now, for the first time, Epstein's brother, Mark Epstein, is speaking out.

Cryptic Messages and a Mysterious House Visit

In a brief but loaded exchange with Newsweek, Mark said he wouldn't be "surprised" if there were more damaging messages involving Donald. Still, he stopped short of confirming or denying their existence. When asked about journalist and author Michael Wolff's commentary on the matter, he admitted he had "no opinion."

At the center of the latest revelations is an email dated April 2, 2011, in which Jeffrey refers to Donald as "the dog that hasn't barked." In the same message, he makes an unsettling claim — that an unnamed victim had spent "hours at my house with him."

The message was sent just weeks after the British press began pulling the lid off Jeffrey's secretive world — one filled with elite names, scandal, and silence. This email was among three selected from a massive trove of more than 23,000 documents recently handed over to House Democrats by the Epstein Estate after a subpoena.

Any identifying information about alleged victims was redacted, but the insinuations remain disturbing.

Wolff's Caution Turns Calculated

Another series of emails adds further intrigue. In December 2015, as Donald's presidential campaign gained steam, Michael, who has chronicled Donald's time in the White House, messaged Jeffrey.

"I hear CNN planning to ask Donald tonight about his relationship with you—either on air or in scrum afterwards," Michael warned. Jeffrey replied, "If we were to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?"

Michael's response was cold and strategic. He said, "I think you should let him hang himself... If he says he hasn't been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency." He added that if Donald looked like he could actually win, Jeffrey could "save him, generating a debt."

Donald Allegedly Knew 'About the Girls'

The final message — dated January 2019, with Donald in the White House — may be the most damning yet. "Donald said he asked me to resign, never a member ever," Jeffrey wrote. "Of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop."

The full context of the messages is still unclear, but these fragments are already reigniting questions that many thought had been buried — and Mark's guarded words suggest more revelations may be on the horizon.

Donald Fires Back, Shifts Focus

Following the release of the emails, Donald wasted no time in addressing the matter publicly — though not the content itself. Taking to Truth Social, he sidestepped the specifics and instead slammed Democrats for trying to manipulate the narrative.

He claimed they were using the Epstein issue not to raise concerns about his connection to Jeffrey, but to distract from the looming government shutdown.

His campaign doubled down on that defense during a November 12, 2025, press conference, when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke directly to the media.

"These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong," Karoline said. "And what President Trump has always said is that he was from Palm Beach, and so was Jeffrey Epstein."

Karoline then reiterated a claim Donald has made in the past — that Jeffrey was once a member of Mar-a-Lago, but was personally removed by Donald himself.

"Because Jeffrey Epstein was a pedophile and he was a creep," she added bluntly.

More Questions Than Answers

With each new document, the scandal seems to swell — not fade. While Donald and his team insist there is nothing new here, the timing, tone, and content of the emails have left many observers asking what else might be buried in those 23,000 records.

And if Mark's instincts are right, this may only be the beginning, and more emails may surface in the near future.