Clint Eastwood Regrets His 2012 RNC Speech To An Empty Chair, Offers Support For Trump

During the 2012 Republican National Convention, Clint Eastwood spoke in support of Mitt Romney and gave a memorable speech to an empty chair on stage.

He pointed at the chair and announced, “So I’ve got Mr. Obama sitting here.” Eastwood explained in an interview with Esquire explaining the motivation behind the act.

“Great, he’s a great guy. I’ve got to say something more.” Eastwood admitted that he felt all the previous speeches were too similar and he wanted to stand out during the convention to highlight Romney’s qualities.

“And so I’m listening to an old Neil Diamond thing and he’s going, “And no one heard at all / Not even the chair.” And I’m thinking, That’s Obama.” The song sparked the idea.

“He doesn’t go to work. He doesn’t go down to Congress and make a deal. What the hell’s he doing sitting in the White House? If I were in that job, I’d get down there and make a deal. Sure, Congress are lazy bastards, but so what? You’re the top guy.” Eastwood was fired up and ready to deliver his unique speech.

However, looking back Eastwood regrets the stunt. When asked, “What troubles you the most?” during the interview Eastwood answered “what troubles me is … I guess when I did that silly thing at the Republican convention, talking to the chair.”

Of Donald Trump, Eastwood said “I can understand where he’s coming from, but I don’t always agree with it.”

When asked who he endorses, Eastwood says no one at the moment. “[Trump] said a lot of dumb things. So have all of them. Both sides.”

“It’s a tough voice to listen to for four years,” Eastwood said of Hillary Clinton. “It could be a tough one. If she’s just gonna follow what we’ve been doing, then I wouldn’t be for her,”

If he had to choice between the two candidates “I’d have to go for Trump … you know, ’cause she’s declared that she’s gonna follow in Obama’s footsteps. There’s been just too much funny business on both sides of the aisle.”