This week, Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise found himself in an unexpected spot when a reporter asked him a curveball question about former President Donald Trump’s new tariffs during a press event for Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part Two. But Cruise, known for his cool and composed style, smoothly dodged the political landmine.
During the red carpet event in Los Angeles, the 61-year-old actor was all smiles while talking about the high-octane stunts and action scenes in the upcoming installment of the iconic spy franchise. However, the atmosphere shifted when a journalist suddenly asked for his opinion on the economic impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs.
Without missing a beat, Cruise gave a firm but polite response: “We’d rather answer questions about the movie.” He then quickly steered the conversation back to his passion for filmmaking, praising the cast and crew for their hard work on the challenging shoot.
The moment quickly caught fire on social media, with fans and commentators debating whether Cruise was right to avoid the political question or if he should have spoken out. Some praised his focus, saying the event was about celebrating cinema, not politics. Others felt celebrities have a platform and should use it to address national issues.
This isn’t the first time Cruise has carefully navigated around hot-button topics. Over the years, he’s become a master of keeping the spotlight on his films and not letting off-screen controversies steal the show.
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two is set to hit theaters next year, and if Cruise’s track record is anything to go by, it’s likely to be another box office smash. As for politics? Looks like Ethan Hunt prefers to leave those missions for someone else.