‘Lord of the Rings’ star Ian McKellen draws support as he rates Trump ‘one of the worst’ public speakers

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."

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.

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