Jeffrey Dean Morgan is speaking out about Donald Trump’s immigration policy. The actor has since shared some of his thoughts on the election and how he feels about the candidate’s controversial immigration stance.
At the premiere of his new movie Desierto with Gael Gracia Bernal, both actors were asked about Donald Trump’s thoughts on immigration policy. Desierto is a film about an undocumented immigrant (played by Bernal) who tries to enter the U.S.-Mexican-border until he’s discovered by Morgan’s character, an anti-immigration sniper.
“I think that everything Trump said in his speech about immigration was dead wrong,” Morgan said. “If people want to come here to make a better life for themselves, they should be welcomed with open arms. Are there some bad apples? Sure, but there’s a lot more bad apples that are born and raised right here in our country.”
Morgan went on to bash Trump, saying, “He’s an embarrassing to the world, not just America. He’s a thug and an idiot.”
The actor also called Trump’s presidential campaign “a joke that has gone on way too long.”
As for Bernal, he said, “It is very unfortunate that this high level of hate discourse has been going on. Migration is as natural and as real as both of us speaking right now.”
While the film’s movie trailer doesn’t include Trump’s offensive campaign, a clip was released dubbed with the GOP candidate’s speech given back in June of 2015 when he announced his presidential candidacy, as reported by the Latin Times.
“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems. When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump’s voice is heard saying in the trailer.
“They’re sending people that have a lot of problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists and it’s gotta stop, and it’s gotta stop fast,” the video said as it plays out.
Check out the video for yourself below.
A second Mexican trailer, released by the international distributor Cinepolis Distribucion, is even worse, according to Thrillst. It swapped out movie critic quotes for quotes from Trump’s followers on Twitter. This Desierto clip shows the most shocking side of American nationalism, including some racist and vulgar language. Check out the clip below, but be warned: It may be difficult to watch for some people.
“This guy is a total hero,” one Twitter user remarked about Morgan’s character.
This movie is surely timely with the November elections right around the corner. Desierto is co-written and directed by Jonas Cuaron. The filmmaker revealed that Desierto puts these important issues to the forefront, and he hopes that the audience will take something away from a tragic and horrifying reality that thousands of hopeful immigrants face on the U.S.-Mexican border.
You can check out the alternative trailer for Desierto below. The movie hits theaters everywhere on Friday, October 14.
Meanwhile, Morgan has been making headlines for his role of supervillain Negan on The Walking Dead. He also made an appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Bruce Wayne’s father, Thomas Wayne. In DC Comics’ 2011 crossover story Flashpoint, the Flashes messes things up, Bruce gets killed, and then Wayne becomes Batman. Morgan has said there needs to be a movie focused on that plot, according to Fuse TV.
“Maybe when [Snyder] cast me that was kind of the goal,” he recently told Cinema Blend. “Hopefully DC can figure this all out, and in a few years I can come back and do a Flashpoint Batman! I would love it. That would be great.”
Morgan previously appeared in Snyder’s 2009 Watchmen adaptation, when the idea was born. In that same interview, the actor expressed an interest in the role.
“I have not had any big discussions with him about [Flashpoint], but I remember when we were in Australia doing Watchmen press, and I was having dinner with Zack or whatever. And he was like, ‘My dream is to do the Frank Miller Batman.’ And he goes, ‘You would be an awesome Batman.’ The darker version.”
Morgan also expressed interest at Denver Comic Con back in June.
“Man, I would love to play that Batman…. Flashpoint would be very cool,” he said.
[Featured Image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]