“Power” star Omari Hardwick said he is “not a fan” of Donald Trump during TheWrap‘s latest episode of “Drinking with the Stars,” and thinks Hillary Clinton has a major shot at winning the presidential election in 2016.
“I know that Donald Trump is a smart man,” Hardwick told host Greg Gilman. “I’m not a fan, but I know he’s a smart man, so I’m very confused and baffled and really interested in his antics at this point.”
Trump has been the subject of headlines, criticism and backlash since he announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, and generalized all undocumented Mexican immigrants as “rapists.” He has not apologized, and continues to take a strong stance against illegal immigration while taking shots at other candidates and, in true Trump fashion, just about anyone else who questions him.
Although Hardwick said he would move his family to Italy if Trump manages to become the next President of the United States, he’s curious to see the rest of the real estate tycoon’s campaign unfold.
“The things he opens his mouth and says blow my mind. And it blows my mind that he has supporters,” Omari said. “And this is a man who has not had money, who has been bankrupt … so he should know a little bit about the edge of not having, and so his heart should go out a little bit to folks who don’t have.”
On the flip side, the actor sees a “moment” in history in which “a minority president could follow a minority president,” meaning the possibility of the nation’s first black president being succeeded by the nation’s first female president.
“I think we’re sort of in the landscape where that could happen. I don’t know if it’s going to happen,” Hardwick said. “I think that the strongest or most formidable weapon for the Republicans is the young senator [Marco Rubio]. But I just think he’s way too young.”
Given Hardwick’s college football origins and time spent with the San Diego Chargers, TheWrap asked for his two cents on Caitlyn Jenner as the recipient of the ESPYs 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
Detractors in the sports community said the award would be better suited for an active athlete, while Hardwick suggested giving it to a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing.
“The award should’ve gone to someone else. Perhaps you could double up your efforts in having Caitlyn present the award,” Hardwick said.
He added: “For Bruce Jenner, who I grew up watching in the Olympics, to now be in this transition … you can applaud her, present her, and have her honor another person.”
Watch the video above for Hardwick’s thoughts on politics, and then watch the video below to hear what the former athlete has to say about Jenner.
“Power” airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. on Starz.