Banker Steve Mnuchin is an integral part of the Donald Trump campaign, serving as its Campaign Finance Chair and chief bundler, particularly from the financial sector.
Although Mnuchin has little experience as a fundraiser (particularly for Republicans), he’s a Wall Street veteran, who spent 17 years at Goldman Sachs before setting up his own capital management firm and dipping his toe into movie producing. Since 2015, he’s invested in more than 170 Hollywood films on his own and in cooperation with RatPac Entertainment, including Avatar, the Wall Street sequel, and the latest DC comics blockbuster, Suicide Squad.
Mnuchin was a unique choice for Trump, given that he has contributed heavily to Democrats in the past (including Trump’s rival, Hillary Clinton). But so far, he’s been a success, helping to persuade some major Wall Street donors to back Trump, and is committed to raising $1 billion for the New York real estate tycoon.
His Suicide Squad stars, however, aren’t as flexible in their political allegiances. Will Smith, who plays Deadshot in the movie, told reporters on the Suicide Squad red carpet that he has a problem with the values he says Trump represents.
“My grandmother would have smacked my teeth out of my head if I had referred to a woman as a fat pig. And I cannot understand how people can clap for that. It’s absolutely collective insanity,” Smith said about Trump’s off-the-cuff speaking style and controversial remarks. “If one of my sons, I am getting furious just thinking about it, if one of my sons said that in a public place, they couldn’t even live in my house anymore.”
But Margot Robbie, who plays Harley Quinn, was at least a fan of Trump’s New York hotel’s accommodations.
Mnuchin, who also walked the Suicide Squad red carpet, says he feels at home with Trump’s campaign, regardless of what his famous friends think. “You’d be surprised how many secret Republicans there are in Hollywood,” he told reporters.
He even took time out to address rumors that the Trump campaign was facing internal strife. “I think this is all stuff that the press is just making up and talking about. I was at campaign headquarters all day for the last two days. People could not be more excited about what’s going on.”
Mnuchin’s returns from his investment in clowns (the killer kind, at least) will pay off. Suicide Squad will likely break $20.5 million in its opening weekend at the box office. The returns from his investment in Donald Trump, however, is still a question mark.