Did Donald Trump really think that Christian Bale was Bruce Wayne?

Oftentimes, people recognize specific roles more than the actors and actresses that play them. There’s nothing wrong with it, unless someone is playing an iconic role, like, oh let’s say, Batman.

It turns out, even someone as popular as Christian Bale can be mistaken for Bruce Wayne. There’s nothing wrong with it, since not everyone must be a Hollywood and comic book expert or even a fan. However, if a Batman movie is being filmed in your building, directed by one of the hottest names in Hollywood and starring arguably the greatest cast at the time, you’d better know the difference. Judging by Bale’s interviews, Donald Trump was either unaware of that or channeling his inner actor himself.

In 2011, Bale and Christopher Nolan were filming the final part of The Dark Knight trilogy in New York City’s Trump Tower. One day, Trump himself called Bale to his office and apparently talked to him as if he was Bruce Wayne. Therefore, there’s one burning question that needs to be answered.

Did Donald Trump think that Christian Bale was Bruce Wayne?

The whole event was described by Bale in an 2018 interview with Variety. He joked around how Trump acted as if he was Wayne:

“I think he thought I was Bruce Wayne, because I was dressed as Bruce Wayne. So he talked to me like I was Bruce Wayne and I just went along with it, really. It was quite entertaining. I had no idea at the time that he would think about running for president.”

So either Trump put on an act, or he indeed saw Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. The actor was immensely popular at the time, though, so it’s tough to believe that. AMaybe Bale talked to Trump in his low, whispering voice he does throughout the series when being the superhero? We will never know for sure, but the two even took a picture together back then.

This interview resurfaced in June 2024, with people quickly turning to mock Trump.

“I love what you’re doing Bruce, ya know, the whole Batman thing. Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone,” one X user wrote. “Folks, I’ve got to tell you about a guy I know, a guy I’ve known for a long time—Bruce Wayne. Now, Bruce, he’s a winner. A real winner. He’s got the best buildings, the best parties, and let me tell you, his charity work? It’s the best. Nobody does charity like Bruce,” another added.