Jane Fonda protests Trump at Kennedy Center, warns media will turn ‘fake’ amid Iran war fears
WASHINGTON, DC: Actress Jane Fonda delivered a forceful speech condemning President Donald Trump and his administration’s alleged attacks on the First Amendment during a protest outside the Kennedy Center on Friday, March 27.
The event, held ahead of the 'No Kings' demonstrations, brought together artists, journalists, and activists to address concerns over media control, cultural institutions, and freedom of expression. Several prominent figures joined Fonda in voicing their apprehensions about recent political and institutional developments.
Jane Fonda criticizes Trump administration and warns of media control
At the rally, Fonda warned against what she described as growing threats to independent journalism and artistic freedom. She also criticized the administration’s role in overseeing media mergers.
She said, “Since Trump has taken over the approval of media mergers, we risk having major jewels in the crown of independent journalism and nuanced entertainment being gutted. I am referring to Warner Bros. Studios, CNN and HBO."
Expressing further concern, she said, "God, it hurts me to say those names that may soon not be what they were.”
She continued, “If we don’t fight back, the news we get will be increasingly fake. We won’t be allowed to know what’s really happening. Our children’s academic curriculum will be actually censored. Ticket costs for cultural events will go up while the quality will go down. Books and films will be shallower, lacking nuance and complexity.”
Explaining the decision of her Committee for the First Amendment to convene outside the recently renamed Kennedy Center, Fonda said the venue was deliberately chosen as it reflects broader ongoing developments, describing the “beloved Citadel of the Arts has become a symbol of what is happening.”
Fonda stated that the Center “has been effectively silenced after artists refuse to bow to ideological demands and the racist erasure of history,” while also acknowledging the employees affected by changes introduced under the Trump administration.
Jane Fonda warns democracy faces growing authoritarian pressure
Fonda further questioned the intent behind the move, stating, “As a cover, Trump is shutting it down for at least two years, supposedly, to make repairs. And he even suggested it may be necessary to take it down to the studs. What’s he going to do, build another ballroom where he can dance and, like Nero, fiddle while his country burns?”
She said the committee chose to act on Friday, explaining that they “felt it was time to expose the range and depth of the attacks on the bedrock of our democracy,” while urging both the media and the public to “stand tall against authoritarianism that is taking a hold and consolidating very fast.”
Numerous performers have canceled appearances, contributing to declining ticket sales. Additionally, internal communications from executive director Matt Floca indicated impending layoffs, with reports stating that at least 40 employees would lose their jobs.
She also briefly addressed the ongoing conflict in Iran, noting that although the issue was “not a focus” for the committee, she remained concerned about the potential implications of the military operation on freedom of expression.
She noted, “I want to say that the First Amendment suffers greatly in times of war, as the government works to crush internal dissent. Our parents, our forefathers fought and died for these rights, for these freedoms.”
Fonda further stressed, "We must not sit by quietly and watch them taken away. If we wait to act, if we hesitate out of fear or the feeling that it doesn’t affect us, it may be too late. The tools we have now to resist, including the right to vote, may not be here, may no longer be available if we don’t act now."
