Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is excited about some perceived praise from Robert Redford, although it turns out the actor didn’t have totally flattering words for the candidate.
Redford was quoted by Trump on Tuesday morning as saying: “I’m glad he’s in there because him being the way he is, and saying what he says the way he says it, I think shakes things up and I think that’s very needed. Because on the other side, it’s so bland, it’s so boring, it’s so empty.”
The quote was lifted from a 27 August interview with Redford and A Walk in the Woods costar Nick Nolte on Larry King Now.
A proud Trump tweeted:
Wow! Such nice words from Robert Redford on my running for President. Thank you, Robert. pic.twitter.com/TpV3w18BW6
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2015
Trump attributed the quote to The Hill newspaper, which reported them on 2 September.
But Trump failed to include the first part of Redford’s comments in his tweet. When asked what he thought of the presidential candidate and real estate mogul, Redford began his comments with: “Look he’s got such a big foot in his mouth, I’m not sure you’re going to get it out.”
Redford, who endorsed President Barack Obama during the 2012 election, referred to the 2016 presidential race as “Looney Tunes and not Merrie Melodies” and “crazy stuff”.
A spokesperson for Redford told the Hollywood Reporter that the quote reflects the actor’s enjoyment of Trump as a character, but doesn’t indicate his support for Trump as president.
What emerged from the interview with King was that longtime actor Nick Nolte would probably make a good Trump. King suggested that Nolte “could play Trump in a movie”.
Nolte, in a nod to Trump’s infamous hair mimed moving his own hair to the side, saying: “Yeah I could.”
“Oh he’d be terrific,” said Redford.
