Our favorite fake presidents from movies and TV

The Week staff nominate their favorite fictional leaders of the free world. Whether nobly fighting for bipartisanship in Congress or saving the world from aliens, these costumed and quaffed presidents of the silver and small screens have entertained and maybe even inspired us (likely to watch more movies and TV shows) over the years.

Watch iconic speeches from our favorite fictional presidents:

President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) in Independence Day:

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President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) in Mars Attacks:

President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho (Terry Crews) in Idiocracy:

President Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) in The American President:

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President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen) in The West Wing:

Listen to more of The Week's podcasts:

* Your weekly streaming recommendation: The War Room

* This week I learned why people in old movies talk weird, and more

* What we can learn from Abraham Lincoln's greatest mistake