Brad Pitt opened up in a new interview about his thoughts on Donald Trump, saying he has made a concerted effort to understand why someone might support the controversial Republican presidential nominee, 70.
Chatting with the New York Times’ T Magazine for its men’s fashion issue, the 52-year-old actor shared his views about Trump’s possible presidency and those who are thinking about voting for the reality star turned politician this coming November.
“Man, I never thought that [Brexit] would happen. Same way I can’t bring myself to think that Trump will be in charge,” the eternal heartthrob told the publication. “In the simplest terms, what brings us together is good, and what separates us is bad.”
Pitt — who along with his wife, Angelina Jolie, is a supporter of Trump’s Democratic counterpart, Hillary Clinton — went on to summarize the real estate tycoon’s political pursuits by quoting a poignant line from his 2008 film The Big Short. “When things are going wrong and we can’t find the reason for it,” the dad of six said, “we just start creating enemies.”
Though he is still coming to terms with Trump’s bid to take over the Oval Office, Pitt admitted that he has empathy for those who think the ex–Celebrity Apprentice host might “make America great again.”
“Coming from Oklahoma, southern Missouri, which leans more toward a Trump voice, I try to understand it,” he explained. “It seems that the people who suffer the most end up betting for the party that would hurt them. And so I try to understand where they’re coming from.”
Pitt believes that those who are attracted to Trump’s ideals can relate to the mogul’s angry attitude. “You gotta understand that it’s also in our DNA. Most Americans don’t have time to watch CNN and Fox and Al Jazeera,” he said. “They’re trying to make the rent, get the kids fed, they’re tired when they get home and they want to forget about everything. And so suddenly when this voice comes in — and it doesn’t have to be a voice of substance — saying he’s fed up with all of this, that’s the part that hooks into the DNA.”
The By the Sea star couldn’t help but voice his confusion over Trump supporters’ unrelenting plea for the next POTUS to reclaim the United States, though. “A Trump supporter is fighting against just about everything. What does he even mean, ‘Take our country back’? Would someone please explain that to me?” Pitt quipped. “Where’d it go?”
