United States.- American actor George Clooney took advantage of his presence at the Venice Film Festival to launch harsh criticisms against the Donald Trump Administration, which he described as a “kakistocracy”, a term used to describe a system governed by people considered least qualified.
Clooney, 65, received the honorary Golden Lion this Wednesday for his cinematic career and, during the press conference prior to the ceremony, expressed his concern about the political direction of the United States, although he assured that he trusts the country will manage to overcome the current moment.
“We are going through an unfortunate moment, but I believe we are going to overcome all of this,” he stated.
The Ocean’s Eleven star maintained that the United States is going through another period of tension, similar to other difficult moments in its history, and cited 1968 as an example, a year marked by the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.
“There is a very good word, kakistocracy, which refers to a country governed by the least qualified people. I think that perhaps right now we have a kakistocracy, but we will get through it,” he stated.
Defend the role of journalists and artists
The actor also warned about the risks that, in his view, journalists and creators face under authoritarian governments.
“The first ones that authoritarians try to silence are not the politicians. They are the journalists who ask questions,” he stated.
Clooney added that artists who refuse to accept simple answers and those who use their work to generate empathy for others are also in that same vein.
“Stories are always dangerous to those who use fear,” he maintained.
The interpreter also questioned what he considers a normalization of cruelty within American politics and criticized a post attributed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, in which women in the Canadian Army were ridiculed.
Trust in a political change in 2028
Despite his criticisms, Clooney assured that he remains optimistic and pointed to the upcoming elections as an opportunity to change the country’s political course.
The actor believes that the midterm legislative elections scheduled for November can act as a “counterweight” to the Trump administration and pave the way for a change in the 2028 presidential elections. “I am ashamed of all this, but we will get through it,” he reiterated.
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It also questions the stance on climate change
Clooney used his speech to also address the climate crisis. He recalled that this summer he had to be evacuated along with his family from their residence in the south of France due to forest fires.
The actor criticized those who, according to him, hold positions of power and consider climate change to be a hoax.
“We are living in a moment where the majority of those in power have decided that climate change is a hoax and that science is not real. But that will not last forever,” he stated.
The tribute in Venice comes after a career that includes two Academy Awards and work as an actor, director, and producer. During his visit, Clooney also recalled some of his greatest successes and failures, assuring with a laugh that his career has been marked by both extremes.
