‘Lord of the Rings’ star Ian McKellen claims Trump is ‘one of the worst’ public speakers, Internet says ex-prez is a ‘comedian’

British actor Ian McKellen said great oratory is a thing of the past
PUBLISHED JUN 9, 2024
British actor Ian McKellen shared his opinion about Donald Trump as a public speaker (Getty Images)
British actor Ian McKellen shared his opinion about Donald Trump as a public speaker (Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND: British actor Ian McKellen is clearly not impressed with Donald Trump's oratory skills. In a recent interview, the veteran of 'The Lord of the Rings' described Trump's oratory abilities as "an absolute bewilderment".

The veteran actor, renowned for his role as Gandalf in Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, shared his opinions on the presidential candidate with The Times of London.

What did Ian McKellen say about Donald Trump?

McKellen remarked while talking about former President Donald Trump, “I haven’t seen him live. But he’s one of the worst public speakers there has ever been. Whether he’s reading a script or not, it’s so patent what he is,” Deadline reported.

Ian McKellen, 85, is currently portraying Falstaff on stage in the UK. He suggested that the great powers of oratory might be a relic of the past.

He said, “I remember leaving my school [in Bolton] in the sixth form and cycling down to the town square to see [1950s Welsh Labour Party politician] Aneurin Bevan on the hustings without a microphone."

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 21: Sir Ian McKellen attends
Ian McKellen lamented that there aren't any great orators around anymore (Dave Benett/Getty Images )

He remarked, "There aren’t any great orators like that around, are there?”

He lamented that politicians “don’t spend enough time looking at themselves and saying, ‘Well, I didn’t believe that person'."

McKellen has had a distinguished career of over 60 years. He continues to work in theatre and film, selecting his roles carefully, knowing each could be his final.

He expressed willingness to reprise his role as Gandalf in the upcoming movie 'The Hunt for Gollum,' set to be produced by Jackson and directed by Andy Serkis, with a projected release in 2026.

However, McKellen noted, "There is no script, no offer, there is no plan."

Internet reacts to Ian McKellen's remarks about Trump's oratory skills

Ian McKellen's comments resonated with many social media users who commented below the Deadline article.

One wrote, "Obama was a great orator. It was a pleasure to hear him give speeches, unlike the case with most presidents. Trump is basically an insult comedian at a podium."

Another user added, "He’s not wrong. Bill was the last great orator and he was porous compared to the averages of the 50s-60s. I don’t think Trump would claim to be an orator though."

The third commentator wrote, "Trump is not a great orator. He’s a comedian. Completely different standard. While I disagree with McKellen I still hope to see him put on the pointy hat one more time."

"Complete political bias love him or hate him the guy knows how to talk and use the charisma to manipulate his audience," a person claimed about Trump.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online

MORE STORIES

The DOJ said California’s tuition law charged out-of-state citizens more than undocumented residents, calling it 'unequal treatment' under federal law
5 hours ago
The House voted 426-0 to repeal the controversial provision that had been quietly added by Senate Republicans to the government funding bill
1 day ago
Clay Higgins added he would support the bill only if the Senate amended it to better protect victims and uninvolved Americans
2 days ago
A three-judge panel ordered Texas to use the 2021 map for 2026, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and Republican redistricting plans
2 days ago
Near-unanimous vote followed pressure campaign from Democrats and dissident Republicans as Mike Johnson urged the Senate to fix 'serious deficiencies'
2 days ago
Mike Johnson backed the Epstein bill but warned of 'deficiencies' that he said the Senate must fix, as these flaws could expose sensitive materials
2 days ago
The DOJ sued California over new mask and ID laws for federal agents, arguing they violate the Supremacy Clause and endanger officers
3 days ago
Rae Huang slammed Mayor Karen Bass for her handling of homelessness and recent political violence, calling her own campaign a 'moment for change'
4 days ago
Donald Trump said holiday shoppers were seeing better deals, claiming Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal costs were about 25% lower than under Joe Biden
4 days ago
JD Vance says '30 million illegal immigrants' flooded the country under Joe Biden and drove up housing costs
7 days ago