Jane Fonda Criticizes Corporate Influence and Trump in Op-Ed, Amidst PAC's Political Spending

Jane Fonda, the acclaimed actress and activist, has authored a sharp opinion piece denouncing what she terms "corporate greed" and its pervasive influence in politics, particularly targeting former President Donald Trump and his administration's environmental record. The op-ed, published in Newsweek, comes as California voters prepare to decide on Proposition 45, a measure Fonda argues is heavily backed by corporate interests.

Fonda contends that corporate entities, including data center developers, oil and gas companies, and utilities, are funneling significant funds to influence the outcome of Proposition 45. This proposition, she writes, would alter the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), establishing a new process for reviewing, permitting, and judicially reviewing certain projects.

"This reduced public oversight in California could not come at a worse time," Fonda stated in her piece, drawing a parallel to actions by the Trump administration. "The Trump administration is aggressively dismantling clean air and clean water protections that Americans have counted on for the past half-century." She warned that Proposition 45 could weaken key state environmental laws, making it easier for large corporations to pollute with less accountability to affected communities and potentially shifting costs to taxpayers.

Fonda urged California voters to reject the proposition, asserting that "polluting industries do not have our best interests in mind. They are focused on their bottom lines, not your grocery bill, your mortgage payment or the air you breathe."

The op-ed's publication coincides with substantial political activity from Fonda's own organization, the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, also known as JanePAC. Since its founding in 2022 with the stated goal of "electing climate champions at the state and local level," the PAC has reportedly received over $8 million in contributions and disbursed nearly $3.42 million into various election campaigns. Operating expenditures for the PAC have totaled approximately $1.77 million.

JanePAC still holds over $5 million in reserve funds. The organization's efforts aim to counter the influence of the fossil fuel industry by supporting candidates committed to climate action.

Fonda, 88, has a long history of activism, spanning over five decades. She was a prominent figure in the anti-Vietnam War movement in the early 1970s and has been outspoken on social, political, gender, and environmental issues. Her activism has included participation in protests and support for movements such as the Black Panthers and Native American rights. She was notably photographed in Hanoi in 1972, an image that led to significant controversy. More recently, she has been a vocal critic of former President Trump's environmental policies and has been arrested multiple times during climate change protests.