Would John Wayne have liked "Pres." Donald Trump?

It's unlikely that John Wayne would have fully embraced Donald Trump, though there are aspects he might have appreciated — and others he likely would have strongly opposed.

Here’s a breakdown:

What John Wayne Might Have Liked About Trump:

Patriotism and Anti-Communism: Wayne was a staunch anti-communist and nationalist, values Trump frequently invokes (though in a different context and tone).
Law-and-Order Rhetoric: Wayne often portrayed lawmen or soldiers and publicly supported strong law enforcement.
Media Criticism: Wayne distrusted liberal Hollywood elites and media narratives — something Trump built his brand on challenging.

What He Might Have Disliked:

Draft Dodging and Lack of Service: Wayne deeply admired military service (despite not serving himself due to age and timing), while Trump famously avoided the draft via questionable deferments.
Lack of Personal Discipline: Wayne valued traditional masculinity, self-control, and dignity — qualities many would argue Trump lacks in his personal behavior and speech.
Disrespect Toward Institutions: Wayne supported traditional American institutions (military, presidency, government) while Trump has frequently undermined them.
Populism and Demagoguery: Despite his tough-guy image, Wayne had a complex political philosophy and may have seen Trump’s tactics as dangerously manipulative or self-serving.

Contextual Note:
John Wayne was a conservative, but an old-school one. He was against the New Left but also valued certain democratic norms. His 1971 Playboy interview (controversial for good reason) shows a man of his time — with views that today read as racist and patriarchal — but not necessarily aligned with the kind of extremism Trump flirts with.