It isn’t every day that a celebrated actor known for portraying a fictional president steps into the real-world political arena with such vigor, but that’s exactly what Martin Sheen did during a recent appearance in New York City. The 85-year-old star, revered for his role as President Jed Bartlet on NBC’s acclaimed drama The West Wing, did not mince words when discussing President Donald Trump and his administration during a live taping of MSNBC’s The Best People podcast, hosted by Nicolle Wallace. The event, held over the weekend of October 11-12, 2025, quickly made headlines after Sheen launched a blistering critique of Trump’s leadership style and the atmosphere within his cabinet.
Sheen’s remarks, which were published across several outlets including RadarOnline.com, Fox News, and HuffPost on October 14, 2025, set the tone for a fiery exchange. He began by painting a rather bleak picture of the Trump administration’s inner circle. “When you look at this group of people at the round table in the White House, the cabinet room, every one of those people look across the table and they do not see anyone who is better than they are,” Sheen asserted, as reported by RadarOnline.com. “They generally see a reflection of their worst selves.”
The actor’s criticism didn’t stop there. Sheen described the mood in the cabinet room as devoid of inspiration or camaraderie, saying, “There’s no heroes in there. There’s no music. There’s no laughter. There’s no self-effacement. There’s no joy in that room. It smells of ego and fear and false worship.” These words, echoed across all major reports, drew a stark contrast between the fictional world of The West Wing—often idealized for its principled characters and uplifting moments—and Sheen’s perception of the current administration’s reality.
Wallace, the podcast’s host and a frequent critic of Trump, reflected on the enduring appeal of The West Wing and its influence on viewers, noting, “It’s not just the enduring connection that I think fans have to The West Wing. It’s almost in the absence of something that everyone wants their kids to emulate. I’m not even sure a MAGA family wants their kids to emulate Donald Trump. I’m not sure about that, but I don’t think so. His language and his bullying and his conduct online alone.”
Sheen, seizing the moment, offered what he called “personal advice” for the sitting president. “The big guy in the White House, if he would take some personal advice – you got to realize, sir, that you are the biggest nothing in the world,” Sheen declared, prompting laughter and applause from the audience, according to RadarOnline.com and Fox News. He continued, “And sir, you stop there. You stop listening to all these people around you, these sycophants, who are encouraging you to be your nonhuman self. Get in touch with that humanity.”
Sheen’s comments were not merely rhetorical flourishes; he was adamant about the need for authenticity and humility in leadership. He pressed further, advising Trump, “Stop fussing with your hair and don’t worry about your tie and stand up straight and speak clearly, not from your throat. Speak from your heart and start being human. That’s what you were made for, not golf. So there you are, Mr. President. With all due respect, sir.”
Throughout the taping, Sheen returned to the theme of humanity—or, in his view, the lack thereof—in the current administration. “It’s a mighty battle going on. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about being in touch with your own personal humanity because there’s such a lack of it coming from this administration,” he explained, as reported by Fox News and RadarOnline.com. Sheen insisted that Americans have a “great hunger” for truth, which he believes is not being satisfied by Trump’s leadership.
Sheen’s critique extended beyond Trump himself to those who serve him directly. He accused the president’s cabinet of arrogance and self-absorption, stating, “They do not see anyone who is better than they are. They generally see a reflection of their worst selves.” The actor’s words painted a picture of a leadership team more concerned with ego and power than with service or humility.
It’s not the first time Sheen has spoken out about Trump. As noted by HuffPost, Sheen previously endorsed Joe Biden and campaigned for Kamala Harris, making his political leanings clear. However, his statements during this podcast were particularly pointed, focusing less on policy and more on character and the perceived absence of basic decency and joy within the administration.
Sheen’s spiritual advice for Trump was rooted in the idea that embracing one’s own vulnerability is the key to genuine humanity. “If we’re lucky enough to surrender and accept the responsibility that we start as nothing basically, except our humanity, then we realize, ‘Oh my God, being human is all we need,’” Sheen said, as cited by Fox News. “We’re broken. It’s beautiful brokenness, because if you weren’t broken, nothing could get in to change you.”
While Sheen’s remarks were met with applause and laughter from the live audience, they have also sparked debate across the political spectrum. Some commentators have dismissed his comments as the grandstanding of a Hollywood liberal, while others have praised him for voicing what they see as a widespread disillusionment with the tone and tenor of Trump’s presidency. The event’s coverage, appearing in both left-leaning and right-leaning outlets, underscores how Sheen’s critique resonated—and rankled—across partisan lines.
For his part, Sheen appeared unfazed by the potential backlash, focusing instead on what he described as a moral imperative for leaders to “start being human.” His advice, while directed at Trump, seemed intended as a broader call for empathy, humility, and authenticity in American public life—a message that, depending on one’s perspective, is either a timely reminder or an unwelcome intrusion from an actor who once played a president on TV.
The conversation between Sheen and Wallace, mingling nostalgia for The West Wing with pointed social commentary, served as a reminder of the enduring power of fictional narratives to shape real-world expectations. Whether or not Trump or his supporters heed Sheen’s advice, the moment captured a nation still deeply divided over what it wants—and expects—from its leaders.
As the applause faded and the headlines spread, one thing was clear: Martin Sheen’s words, delivered with the gravitas of a seasoned actor and the conviction of a concerned citizen, had struck a nerve—reminding Americans, for better or worse, that the line between fiction and reality is sometimes thinner than we think.
