Robert Davi has expressed feeling ostracized by Hollywood due to his support for President Donald Trump, a stance he’s held since 2015. This week, during an appearance on the Arroyo Grande podcast, he mentioned that he senses this situation persists “to some extent.”
“Things are still moving along, but perhaps they might be getting a bit brighter,” the Die Hard actor remarked to Raymond Arroyo. “I can’t say for sure, but it’s part of the complexities within the industry. Sometimes, you just don’t know which way the wind will blow.”
Davi pointed out that even when a manager mentions that a project is available, there’s often a hesitation based on the fear of losing it to someone else. This, he believes, is more about apprehension than anything concrete.
Yet, he acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying how many opportunities he’s lost due to his political beliefs, particularly since there are likely many he’s never even been aware of.
He shared that he had been approached twice to back liberal candidates. “In 2016, some executives suggested that if I was supporting someone, I should publicly endorse them. It’s happened at least twice during different elections,” he recounted. “But my immediate thought was, ‘Why would I do that?'”
Davi, a vocal conservative, expressed frustration with what he sees as a “closed-minded” attitude among some industry peers. He asserted that if certain prominent figures had the courage to be open about their beliefs, it could significantly help others feeling silenced.
“People often tell me they follow my social media and appreciate my views,” he said. Citing Frank Sinatra, he noted that if a member of the Rat Pack endorsed someone, it carried weight because of their connections.
“Celebrities, whether they want to admit it or not, wield influence,” he added. “They genuinely impact younger generations and those around them.”
The Goonies actor felt that remaining silent about his opinions might leave some individuals feeling even more alone. Arroyo mentioned that fans have expressed disappointment over Davi’s political views, but he believes those views don’t detract from his past work.
“I’m the polar opposite of Robert De Niro, but I still plan to see any movie he’s in,” he joked. “I don’t have a reluctance to watch his films.” He reminisced about having his daughter watch De Niro’s 2009 movie Everyone’s Fine during the holiday season, commenting it had a “great message.” He playfully added that while viewing it, he thought, “I’ll forgive you.”
