Michael Imperioli Shares Thoughts on How ‘The Sopranos’ Characters Might Align with Trump in 2026
More than 25 years after its debut, the critically acclaimed mob drama The Sopranos continues to resonate with viewers, offering a profound exploration of class and the American dream.
Aired over six seasons from 1999 to 2007, the HBO series, created by David Chase, paved the way for a wave of prestigious television dramas, including Mad Men and Breaking Bad, which similarly critiqued themes of capitalism and masculinity. Michael Imperioli, who earned an Emmy for his role as Christopher Moltisanti—the protégé of Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini—suggested that the characters from the show might hold conservative values today, potentially aligning themselves with MAGA and President Donald Trump.
“The show is about the American dream, especially through the eyes of immigrants,” Imperioli said in a recent interview with The Independent. “I think that would be one of the big themes if it was made today: the current climate in the U.S. and what they’re doing to immigrants. The fact is that these characters are all immigrants, but I think a lot of them would probably be Trump supporters, oddly enough. So how do they reconcile those things? When Italians came over — and people forget this, or they don’t want to see it — a lot of them were undocumented.”
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The Sopranos centers on Tony Soprano, who navigates the complexities of his family life while also being a member of the mafia. The narrative primarily unfolds following his initial visit to a therapist, where he confronts the personal and professional turmoil that leads to panic attacks.
Currently, Imperioli is on a tour across the U.K. and Ireland with co-stars Vincent Pastore and Steve Schirripa, bringing their popular rewatch podcast, Talking Sopranos, to live audiences.
