Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has hit out against the Trump administration by calling it a kakistocracy, a government by the least qualified people in the country. He also defended fellow actor Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely while raising his own doubts about the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
George Clooney received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday. During his acceptance speech, he reflected on his 45-year career in the industry, calling it a series of “happy accidents” and crediting directors, writers, crew and fellow co-stars for his journey.
Clooney also warned that people in power are asking us to fear one another. He said, “The first people that authoritarians try to shut down are not politicians. They’re journalists who ask questions, they’re the artists who refuse simple answers, the filmmakers, writers, actors and musicians who insist that someone you never met is deserving of your empathy.”
He reminded viewers that movies do not stop war but instead serve as a reminder that a stranger is never just a stranger and help us empathise with people we have never met in our lives.
During the press meet, he defended Marvel actor Mark Ruffalo, who faced antisemitism accusations for speaking against the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
“I will always support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I like him. He’s a good man.” He also shared his own views on the merger: “I worry when a big company swallows up another company. I always worry whenever big companies are consolidating because it means a lot of people are going to lose their jobs,” said Clooney.
A known outspoken critic of the Trump administration, Clooney reiterated that the country is going through one of its most difficult times. “There’s a great word, a kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people. I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now, but we’ll get through it.” He also hoped that by 2028 “we’ll have some restoration into some normalcy.”
He was also quick to comment on a tweet by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, which seemed to mock the physical looks of a Canadian female soldier. “What’s the sense of decency here? I’m ashamed of everything, but we will get through all this, and we will come out stronger.”
George Clooney has had an illustrious Hollywood career for about five decades now. The actor has been nominated for six Oscars and won Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for his role in Syriana. In addition, he won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2013 as a producer of the movie Argo.
