President Biden took advice from actors who have played presidents on television and in movies, including Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas, ahead of the State of the Union address Thursday.
“You may’ve heard I’ve got a big speech coming up,” Biden shared on X, formerly Twitter. “So, I thought I would hear from some folks who have done the job before — sort of.”
The video also included Geena Davis, who played the president in TV show “Commander in Chief;” Tony Goldwyn, who played the president in the TV show “Scandal;” and Bill Pullman, who played the president in the movie “Independence Day.”
“I’ve never spoken to so many presidents all at one time,” Biden said, while looking at the group over a video call. “Any advice you have for me in my delivering my speech?”
Freeman, who played the president in the movie “Deep Impact,” said he came out of his role with the idea that speeches should show “hope.”
“Hope is the strongest force we have in this country,” he said. “My advice is just keep telling us how you’re working for us and building hope.”
Goldwyn joked that he “behaved very badly” during his fictional presidency, adding the advice he has is to “tell them you exist for them. Tell them that they make you a better man.”
Davis said, “There’s no crying in politics.”
“Well, what I hope is my politics doesn’t make anybody else cry,” Biden said.
Douglas, who played the president in the movie “The American President,” said that “having a loving partner changes everything.” Pullman said that Biden’s common phrases like, “there’s nothing that we can’t do when we do it together,” are “good ones.”
“Hey, come see me at the White House. … I’d love to meet you all in person,” Biden said to close the video.