20 years after retiring Ali G, Sacha Baron Cohen has dusted off his tracksuit collection and reprised the character for “Ali G: Who Iz I?,” now open in theaters before coming to Amazon Prime Oct. 30. The comedian first brought Ali G to audiences at the turn of the century with “Da Ali G Show,” where he interviewed some of the world’s most powerful figures (and, more often than not, made fools of them in the process). After a lengthy pause, he turned his attention to the one exception: “Donald Trump kept us waiting for about 40 minutes.” Baron Cohen recalled feeling “intimidated” upon entering Trump Tower with director James Bobin, where they waited in a room while Trump shouted a string of expletives “not for the likes of delicate Jewish ears” at Rudy Giuliani over the phone.
But when he realized he’d be sitting down with Ali G instead, his demeanor “immediately” changed. And in the end, we used all those clips and used them to advertise another show that I did.” Baron Cohen’s interview with Trump aired in 2003, back when the future president was best known as a New York real estate mogul, before going on to host NBC’s “The Apprentice.” Looking back at their encounter, Baron Cohen said he could understand how Trump won a second term in the White House, pointing to the president’s “elements of brilliance.” “I mean, how has he survived a second term? People underestimated him,” Baron Cohen said.
There are elements of brilliance to him, otherwise. And that explains his appeal with the fact that he’s there for a second term, the fact that he’s transforming this country. I won’t say positively or negatively.” This was not the only time Baron Cohen reflected on Trump’s one-of-a-kind characteristics on his latest press tour.
He told Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway on the Pivot podcast that the president is “amusing” and that there’s “a huge amount of comedy in the way he speaks.” “He’s intentionally being funny,” Baron Cohen explained.
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