Special Poll
Hollywood actor Richard Gere used his acceptance speech at the Goya Awards in Spain to criticize President Trump, calling him a “bully” and a “thug.” The event, hosted by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, honored Gere with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing his decades-long career in film.
During his speech, Gere warned about the dangers of authoritarianism, saying that the world is on a “slippery slope” and urging people to remain vigilant. He described the political climate in the U.S. as troubling and expressed concern that the erosion of democracy is not just an American issue but a global one.
“I’m coming from a place now that we are in a very dark place in America, where we have a bully and a thug who is the president of the United States,” Gere said, pausing as the audience applauded in response.
He emphasized that the threat of authoritarianism extends beyond the United States. Gere referenced a letter he read in The New York Times from a Hungarian citizen who described how these political shifts take hold in countries worldwide.
“Authoritarianism takes us all over,” Gere warned. “We have to be vigilant, we have to be alert, we have to be energetic. We have to be brave. We have to be courageous.”
He closed his remarks with a message of unity and kindness, encouraging people—especially those in the Spanish-speaking world—to stand up for truth, honesty, and compassion. “We have to be willing to stand up, tell the truth, be honest, and recognize that there’s a place in all of our lives for basic kindness, for basic love, for understanding, and for embracing each other.”
Gere’s comments drew both applause and controversy, adding to the ongoing debate over Trump’s leadership and global influence. While some praised his speech as a call for moral responsibility, others dismissed it as another example of Hollywood’s political activism.