Sopranos’ Michael Imperioli Says Characters Would Likely Support Trump Today
Michael Imperioli, the actor who portrayed Christopher Moltisanti in HBO’s acclaimed series The Sopranos, recently suggested that many of the display’s characters would likely be supporters of Donald Trump if the series were set in the current political landscape. Imperioli made the comments in an interview with The Independent, as reported by multiple outlets on February 22, 2026.
Despite the characters’ backgrounds as first- or second-generation Italian-American immigrants, Imperioli posited that their values might align with those of the former president. “The show is about the American dream, especially through the eyes of immigrants,” he told The Independent. “I think that would be one of the big themes if it was made today: the current climate in the U.S. And what they’re doing to immigrants. The fact is that these characters are all immigrants, but I think a lot of them would probably be Trump supporters, oddly enough.”
The actor’s assessment comes as a shift from previous commentary on the topic. In 2020, Imperioli used his Instagram account to express support for Joe Biden, framing a satirical scenario involving Trump’s behavior at the fictional Bada Bing strip club. According to Vanity Fair, Imperioli posted that Trump had stiffed the staff on a tip, deeming it “unforgivable” and urging his followers to “VOTE BIDEN.”
The idea of how The Sopranos’ characters would navigate contemporary American politics has been a subject of discussion since the show’s conclusion in 2007. David Chase, the series creator, offered his own perspective in a 2019 interview with The New York Times. Chase believed that Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, would have viewed Trump as disingenuous. “He would think the guy was full of [expletive],” Chase said. However, Chase too speculated that A.J. Soprano, Tony’s son, might have found a place within Trump’s administration, potentially as a close aide to Stephen Miller.
Imperioli’s recent comments highlight a potential disconnect between immigrant identity and political affiliation, particularly within the context of the show’s exploration of the American dream and the challenges faced by those seeking it. He noted that many Italian immigrants arriving in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were undocumented, a historical detail often overlooked. The actor’s observations raise questions about how the characters’ pursuit of wealth and status might intersect with current political debates surrounding immigration and national identity.