Brad Pitt compares Brexit with Donald Trump becoming president

The A-lister admits he 'never thought' Britain would leave the EU 
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David Gardner8 September 2016
The Weekender

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Brad Pitt has compared Britain’s decision to part ways with the European Union with the possibility of Donald Trump becoming US president.

‘Man, I never thought Brexit would happen,’ said the 52-year-old actor. ‘Same way I can’t bring myself to think that Trump will be in charge.’

In an interview with the New York Times, Mr Pitt left little doubt where he stood on this year’s key votes on either side of the Atlantic.

‘In the simplest terms, what brings us together is good, and what separates us is bad,’ he said.

‘What I’m most hopeful about is that we’re a global neighbourhood now, and we start to understand each other more and more – and yet, you see this reactionary push for isolation and separation again.

‘A Trump supporter is fighting against just about everything,’ the star continued. ‘What does he even mean, take our country back? Would someone please explain that to me? Where’d it go?’

But Mr Pitt claimed that he has tried his best to understand why outspoken Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has such strong support in America.

‘Coming from Oklahoma, southern Missouri, which leans more toward a Trump voice, I try to understand it,’ he said.

‘You gotta understand that it’s also in our DNA. Most Americans don’t have time to watch CNN and Fox and Al Jazeera.

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.’

In May, Mr Pitt’s actress wife Angelina Jolie urged British voters to remain in the EU.

She also criticised Mr Trump for his stance on immigration and his campaign pledge to ban Muslims from entering the US.

‘To me, America is built on people from around the world coming together for freedoms, especially freedom of religion. So it’s hard to hear this is coming from someone who is pressing to be an American president,’ she told the BBC.

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