West Wing star Bradley Whitford says ‘fakest thing’ about the show was ‘rational Republicans’

Actor cited the cynicism of modern-day politics as reason the hit show would not work in 2019

Bradley Whitford has said that the “fakest thing” about The West Wing was that it presented some characters as “rational Republicans”.

The actor, who starred in the hit NBC political drama as Josh Lyman – deputy chief of staff to fictional Democratic President Josiah “Jed” Barlet – spoke with Buzzfeed News to mark the show’s 20th anniversary.

Whitford, who won an Emmy on Sunday 22 September for his work on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, said he was unsure whether it would work now because “it’s a very dark, weird time”.

“We are so cynical about politics,” he said, “and that show is the opposite of cynicism. It shows the difficulties that you go through, but showed people who really believe in the mission of government and understand that politics is the way you create your modern vision.”

He continued: “Somehow we’ve got to this place where if we don’t agree politically, it’s not just that we don’t agree poltically, it’s that the other person is insane.

“I’m guilty of that kind of thinking. I think we all are. I’m not sure how we get out of it.”

Whitford went on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has been a vocal critic of US president Donald Trump.

Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January this year, he commented: “Donald Trump turned my hair white and causes constant stress.”