Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' Endorses Mitt Romney: 'He Has The Makings Of A Great Dictator,' General Aladeen Says

It's not the type of endorsement you'll see Mitt Romney tout, but General Aladeen, Sacha Baron Cohen's dictator character from the soon-to-be-released film 'The Dictator,' backed the ex-Massachusetts governor over President Barack Obama during a press conference Monday promoting the film.

He has the makings of a great dictator, Cohen said, of Romney, in character as General Aladeen of the fictional west African nation of Wadiya, described as being 12,000 miles from Israel, as the Scud flies. He is incredibly wealthy but pays no taxes and it's not much of a leap to go from firing people to firing squads and from putting pets on the top of a car to putting political dissidents on the top of them. He taught me how to do that.

Video of the New York news conference can be viewed here.

Aladeen said his endorsement would have gone to former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum had he not pulled out of the Republican presidential primary race last month.

I would say Santorum, despite his liberal views, but since he's out of the running, I don't know, Aladeen said before rambling on about what he perceived as double-standards in the world.

You know, what people call genocide in my country is called 'judicial system' in Texas, he said.

While Aladeen said he supports Romney's bid for the presidency, he says his people have the best shot at becoming president by being a Democrat.

In terms of getting into power in America I would have to support the Democrats, he said. If they can enable a Kenyan to become president, then why not Wadiya? But if it was money that I was giving, I give support and I give my full support to Mitchell Romney.

Aladeen spoke of his harsh personal life. His mother died in childbirth of strangulation and his father died due to an allergy to grenades.

The dictator noted it's not often he speaks to Western media and gave the gaggle of reporters a warning when it comes to writing about the upcoming film.

As long as you write good reviews your families will be released, he said.

The Dictator, which also stars Anna Faris, Megan Fox and Ben Kingsley, is one of the year's most highly anticipated films. It's set to be released next week.

Audiences are familiar with Cohen's other characters, including Kazakh reporter Borat, gay journalist Bruno and wannabe British rapper Ali G.