George Clooney criticized the Trump administration, calling it a "kakistocracy" run by the "least qualified people." Speaking at the Venice Film Festival on Friday, the actor also lauded his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, for her work holding members of ISIS accountable for genocide. "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."
Amal Clooney, who attended the festival wearing a mesh Stella McCartney dress, has represented Yazidi survivors and secured legal victories against ISIS members. George Clooney also defended actors' right to speak out on political and human rights issues, stating, "I didn't give away my freedom of speech the minute I became an actor."
He drew parallels between the current political climate and darker periods in U.S. history, such as 1968, when cities experienced unrest and national figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. "There was tons of violence. The Capitol was surrounded with tanks. We've had some other difficult times, but this is one of them," Clooney remarked.
Clooney, who received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the festival on Wednesday, has been vocal in his criticism of the U.S. administration, which he described as "cruel" and lacking "decency." He cited a tweet by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which appeared to mock the appearance of a female Canadian soldier, as an example of this perceived lack of decency. "The idea that cruelty is the base, that being cruel and unkind is part of the fun of all this," Clooney told press. "Where is the sense of decency in all this?"
Despite his criticisms, Clooney expressed optimism that the country would persevere, suggesting that upcoming elections in November and 2028 could lead to a restoration of norms. He noted that he and his wife engage in lively political discussions at home but maintain a normal family life with their two children. "We do it for our families. We do it for our friends," he said.