Sean Penn is bracing for the worst in what he sees as a dangerously unpredictable second Trump presidency — and he’s urging others to do the same.
The Oscar-winning actor didn’t hold back during a recent appearance on The Jim Acosta Show, where he raised alarm over President Trump’s conversations with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele about deporting U.S. citizens to El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison.
“Before Bukele gets to that point where he’s dealing with another leader, we should consider worst-case scenarios,” Penn told Acosta.
Then, in characteristically blunt fashion, Penn likened Trump to an abusive ex. “I do think it’s a reasonable theory that Donald Trump is not unlike the spouse of someone who leaves him… who then murders their former partner, because if they can’t have her, nobody can,” he said. “I think Donald Trump, in his solipsism, may have that relationship with the world, and that this destruction is in part a power play.”
When asked if he believes Trump will try to run for an unconstitutional third term in 2028 — something Trump has alluded to in the past but recently walked back — Penn was even more stark in his prediction:
“I think he might try to destroy the world before he ages out of life.”
The Mystic River and Milk star has never been shy about mixing politics with celebrity. In 2002, Penn made headlines for traveling to Baghdad in protest of the looming U.S. invasion. More recently, he handed one of his Academy Awards to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the war with Russia, telling him, “When you win, bring it back to Malibu.”
Penn’s outspoken support of Ukraine — and his sharp criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin — led to a permanent travel ban from Russia in 2022, alongside actor Ben Stiller.
Though Penn is one of Hollywood’s most politically committed voices, he’s far from alone in his condemnation of Trump. Robert De Niro has called Trump “a jerk, an idiot,” while Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo slammed Trump-era immigration policy, asking, “Why are old white men the only ones who are allowed to be felons?” on The View earlier this year.
You can listen to the full interview with Sean Penn on the May 1 episode of The Jim Acosta Show.
