Johnny Depp, while promoting his upcoming Christmas movie “Ebenezer” at San Diego Comic-Con, adopted an Ebenezer Scrooge persona and made comments that appeared to satirize President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Depp emerged from a fake storefront labeled “Scrooge & Marley” and, in character, interacted with the gathered crowd. After receiving holiday greetings, he responded in costume, questioning attendees about their employment status and free time. He also described them as “very, very strange people” and uttered “Humbug!”
During his appearance, Depp removed garlands from gates, declaring them “poison” and unfit for children. When another performer questioned his actions, Depp stated it was his property and thus he owned it. He then seemingly alluded to Trump's trade initiatives, remarking, "And that you're paying tax on it being there, 'cause everybody has to pay all that stuff. Putting tariffs on the gate."
Trump's administration has implemented significant tariffs on goods from various U.S. trading partners, citing concerns over inadequate enforcement of bans on products made with forced labor.
This is not the first time Depp has commented on Trump. In 2016, he portrayed Trump in a satirical short film titled “Trump: The Art Of The Deal.” Before Trump's election that same year, Depp speculated about a Trump presidency, suggesting it would be historically significant and potentially mark the end of the United States as a functioning republic.
In 2017, Depp made a controversial joke at a festival in England, asking the audience, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” He later issued an apology, clarifying that his intention was amusement, not harm.