GOP presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have been given an offer they can't refuse — the support of tough-guy actor Danny Aiello.
Aiello, a lifelong Republican who's played some of the world’s most vicious mobsters, told
Newsmax TV's Steve Malzberg:
"I'm a Republican, as you know, I'm a conservative, and I'm just hoping for the best possible outcome. There's a lot that I like there. I like Cruz, I like Rubio.
"I'm leaning towards [them], two wonderful young men and exciting to a certain extent. We've had our first black president and now maybe we're going to have our first Spanish one. That possibility exists. They're both extremely bright young men."
Watch Newsmax TV on
DirecTV Ch. 349, DISH Ch. 223 and
Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get Newsmax TV on your cable system —
Click Here Now
Aiello added he is bowled over by the runaway success of Donald Trump, who remains the Republican presidential front-runner, although Cruz, a Texas Republican, is now running neck and neck with him.
"Donald's out there flaming ... I mean he's just tearing it up. There seems to be no rules, he's just out there saying 'here I am, take me as I am, and I'm going to make this country greater,'" said Aiello, whose films include "The Godfather, Part II," "The Last Don," "Moonstruck" and "Do the Right Thing."
"People seem to be reacting at least up to now in a positive way…. He's something else, I had no idea he was a politician until hearing him now, but I mean it's incredible the kind of numbers he's getting for a guy who's never done what he's attempting to do now."
Aiello is remaining close to the vest about picking one candidate.
"I haven't made up my mind who I truly want now. As long as it's something other than Democrat, I'd be very happy," he said.
Aiello, author of
"I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else: My Life on the Street, On the Stage, and in the Movies,'' published by Gallery — will toss his annual pre-Christmas party in New York City on Wednesday at 3 and 8 p.m.
It will be held at the Triad Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, four blocks from where Aiello was born. He’ll be singing Christmas favorites and other tunes from his five albums with his band, Joe Geary & the Guys.
Tickets are $40 and $60 and available through
The Triad.
"The bigger the audience the greater the show, that's the way I see it," the 82-year-old star told Malzberg.
"And listen, what are people doing on a Wednesday afternoon two days before Christmas anyway?"
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.