George Clooney has sharply criticized the Trump administration, labeling it a "kakistocracy"—a government run by the least qualified people—and expressing a hope for its restoration through upcoming elections.
Clooney made these remarks at the Venice Film Festival, where he was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. He spoke about his wife, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, and her work holding ISIS members accountable for genocide. He praised her as a "badass" who "gets the job done."
"By the way, my wife's the only person to have ever put ISIS on trial and won," he said. "She's a badass, and she gets the job done. We do it for our families. We do it for our friends."
He also addressed the criticism he and his wife have faced for their public stances on political and human rights issues. "I didn't give away my freedom of speech the minute I became an actor," Clooney stated. "It also means that people can get mad at you and not like you anymore. Fair enough. That's how this works."
Clooney specifically called out President Trump, mentioning that he receives "mean tweets" from the President. The actor has been vocal in his criticism of the Trump administration, previously describing those in charge as "the least qualified people" and noting a complete absence of "decency."
"We've had some other difficult times but this is one of them," Clooney said, drawing parallels to dark periods in U.S. history such as 1968, a year marked by widespread protests and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. He lamented that "cruelty is the base, that being cruel and unkind is part of the fun of all this."
He cited an instance where U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to mock the physical appearance of an overweight female Canadian soldier. "Where is the sense of decency in all this?" Clooney questioned. "I'm ashamed of all of that but we will get through it and we will come out better on the other side."
The actor expressed optimism for the future, stating that he believes an election in November will serve as a check and balance, and hoping for a "restoration" by 2028. He acknowledged that while they have "interesting conversations around the table" at home, they also maintain a "normal family life" with their children.
Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese lawyer, has been recognized for her significant legal victories in human rights cases.
The couple attended an event at the Venice Film Festival, where Amal Clooney wore a Stella McCartney dress.
George Clooney, 65, wore a dark navy suit, while Amal, 48, complemented her dress with nude Aquazzura heels and large dark sunglasses.
