William Hurt plays what president in "Vantage Point"?

William Hurt plays President Ashton in “Vantage Point.” He portrays the fictional president of the United States at the center of an attempted assassination during a counter-terrorism summit in Salamanca, Spain.

Released in 2008, the political action thriller retells the same attack through several characters’ perspectives. Dennis Quaid plays Secret Service agent Thomas Barnes, while Matthew Fox plays fellow agent Kent Taylor; both are assigned to protect Ashton. The film’s structure gradually reveals how the seemingly separate viewpoints connect.

President Ashton is not a real historical leader, and William Hurt is not playing a recognizable U.S. president such as Abraham Lincoln or Bill Clinton. The character is usually identified simply as President Ashton in the film’s cast listings and promotional material, making that the standard quiz answer. The movie was directed by Pete Travis and also stars Forest Whitaker and Sigourney Weaver.