Danny Trejo's son Gilbert has defended the Machete star amid backlash over his casting in a Ben Shapiro-backed film about immigration enforcement, claiming his father is 'handcuffed to this stupid project' and cannot walk away without risking a lawsuit. In an Instagram Story shared this week, Gilbert alleged that his 82-year-old father was unaware of Shapiro's involvement until two weeks into filming.
'My 82-year-old dad has never heard of Ben Shapiro, I had to explain to him who that is, and what kind of guy he is,' Gilbert wrote. He also claimed that Danny could not publicly criticise the production or leave the film without facing potential legal consequences.
The controversy surrounds Pawn Shop, a thriller produced by Shapiro's conservative media company, The Daily Wire, and Bonfire Legend. Filmed in Livingston, Montana, the project follows a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer seeking refuge in a Hispanic-owned shop amid unrest in Minneapolis.
Gilbert Trejo Says His Father Wanted To Play a Good Guy
Gilbert said Danny's agent presented the role as a sympathetic Mexican shop owner caught in a conflict he wanted no part of. The pitch, he recalled, described 'a complicated story about a complicated time, where everyone looks bad except you, the hardworking Mexican shop owner who just wants peace.' His father 'jumped at the idea of playing a good guy', Gilbert said.
According to Gilbert, the family learnt about Shapiro's role roughly two weeks after filming began. 'My dad contractually can't badmouth him, the film, or walk away without being sued for breach of contract,' he wrote. He also claimed Danny could not issue the public statement he originally wanted, although the contract terms have not been independently verified.
Gilbert described his father as 'handcuffed to this stupid project' and criticised those who had turned against him. He accused Shapiro of benefiting from the fallout while damaging Danny's standing with Mexican fans. His statement did not include contractual documents or communications that would independently confirm his account.
Danny Trejo Says He Is 'Not Pro-ICE'
Pawn Shop follows an ICE agent who seeks refuge in a neighbourhood pawn shop during unrest in Minneapolis, where he encounters a Hispanic man and his younger progressive relative. Its depiction of immigration enforcement has prompted accusations that the film favours ICE. Shapiro has described the project as a story about an agent under attack while making an arrest.
I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community. I am also obviously, pro immigrant. I am not pro ice. pic.twitter.com/LOC5yPfJHc
— Danny Trejo (@officialDannyT) October 10, 2026
On Saturday, 10 October, Danny publicly addressed the criticism surrounding his participation. 'I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community,' the actor wrote on social media. 'I am also obviously pro-immigrant. I am not pro ICE.'
'I know where I come from and I know our struggles,' he continued. 'I am an actor. My job is to tell a story.' The actor, also known for From Dusk Till Dawn and Breaking Bad, did not address the contractual restrictions his son would subsequently describe.
Earlier Daily Wire Credit Adds Context to Montana Controversy
Daily Wire's new pro-ICE movie production has attracted local protesters in Livingston, Montana.
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) October 2, 2026
Filming under the working title 'Pawn Shop', the latest project from Ben Shapiro's Daily Wire and Dallas Sonnier's Bonfire Legend has upset locals — not just because of its alleged… pic.twitter.com/LBCQh4rEkh
Residents of Livingston objected to road closures, simulated gunfire and disrupted access to a local food resource centre during production. City officials suspended the filming permit before reinstating it with additional conditions on 5 October. Shapiro claimed opposition to the film's politics motivated the decision.
Footage from the shoot also drew comparisons with the fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis in January 2026. The Daily Wire announced on Friday, 9 October 2026, that filming had wrapped; the finished film has not been released. Its complete portrayal of the incident and immigration enforcement therefore remains unseen.
Trejo also voiced Switchblade in the 2024 DailyWire+ series Mr. Birchum, which listed Shapiro as an executive producer and Dallas Sonnier as a producer. Although Trejo previously worked on a project involving Shapiro, it remains unclear whether he knew who the conservative commentator was or understood his involvement in Pawn Shop when he signed on. Gilbert's account of what his father knew when he accepted the role remains unverified.
