Hollywood Reporter’s Top Editor Talks Donald Trump on CNN: He’s the Brad Pitt of the GOP (Video)

Donald Trump has added yet another conversation starter into the buzz of his media-dominating election season: his recent cover shoots. The 2016 presidential candidate has modeled his infamous hairdo and signature pout on the August covers of The Hollywood Reporter and Time, with his next cover around the corner for the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone.

In light of the 69-year-old billionaire’s recent covers, CNN’s Brian Stelter interviewed THR‘s top editor, Guggenheim Media’s chief creative officer and co-president Janice Min, about Trump’s blurring of the lines between entertainment and politics. Min recently interviewed the real estate mogul in his New York office for THR‘s Aug. 28 issue.

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After spending three hours with Trump, Min said she got a fair glimpse into how the celebrity CEO operates. 

“He’s no different than let’s say a Brad Pitt or an Angelina Jolie right now,” Min told Stelter. “If you’re Brad Pitt, you know your appearance on a red carpet can materially change an event. [Trump’s] well aware of his status in the star stratosphere right now.”

As for Trump’s success at winning over the media’s attention, Min said Trump knows how to work the camera and the spotlight. 

“He realizes he is ratings gold. He’s the only thing that matters right now on television,” Min said. “I believe he is the death of summer TV ratings right now because everybody is watching the real life Trump show.”

Min added that politics and the media are closely intertwined for Trump, in a way that we have not seen for decades in a presidential election.

“This is the first presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan to be born out of Hollywood,” Min said. “If Reagan was the great communicator, he is the 21st century version of that. He’s the great entertainer.”

To Min, Trump certainly knows how to play the game. He is well aware that his outlandish claims and statements are turning heads and keeping his name in the headlines. 

“Love him or loathe him, it seems to be working,” Min said. “Even if you don’t like his politics, even if you don’t like him as a person, there is a begrudging respect for Trump and his ability to take on — to completely challenge the status quo in a way that’s never been done.”

As for his “war” with Fox News, Min told Stelter that Trump has found “peace” with the news network, but it may not be for long. 

“I think it’s an uneasy peace. I think peace will be broken several times.”