Richard Gere dubs Donald Trump 'bully and thug' at Goya Awards as he says America is in 'very dark place'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Richard Gere has never been one to hold his tongue, and he certainly isn't starting now.

The Hollywood icon, 75, took the stage at the prestigious Goya Awards in Spain on Saturday evening, February 8, to accept an honorary lifetime achievement award—and while he did share some words about acting, he also unleashed his thoughts on the status quo of the world, particularly the leadership in his home country.

Richard Gere goes after Donald Trump

Richard Gere — who was presented with the honor by none other than Antonio Banderas — didn’t waste time getting into the heavy stuff. Speaking from the grand stage at Palacio de Congresos de Granada, he took aim at President Donald Trump.

“[I see] this very foolish tribalism is starting to take over, where we think we’re all separate from each other. We have, unfortunately, elected officials that don’t inspire us in the way we want to be inspired,” he said.

“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," he said to applause from some in the audience.

The award-winning actor also insisted that the problem wasn’t just confined to the US. “But it’s not just in the US, it’s everywhere,” he warned, “We have to be vigilant.”

This wasn’t just an off-the-cuff moment either—Gere had already hinted at his concerns the day before during a pre-awards press conference.

“America is experiencing a dark time, and the time has come for people to stand up. We must be vigilant about this dark marriage of money and power. It is irresponsible and corrosive that there are millionaires in charge of the United States, [it’s] a danger to the whole planet," he said.

“The millionaire clowns surrounding Trump are immature and narcissistic, a deadly mix," Gere added, as quoted by Variety.

A night of love and celebration

But despite the hard-hitting statements, Richard Gere was glowing at the event—his stunning wife Alejandra Silva, 41, was by his side and the two were radiating pure happiness.

The lovebirds turned heads as they made a dazzling arrival at the awards ceremony in Granada on Friday. Snapped at Charles V's Palace in Alhambra, the couple looked more in love than ever— their romance is still as strong as when they first tied the knot back in April 2018.

Alejandra kept things effortlessly elegant in a chic camel maxi coat paired with a barely visible turtleneck maxi dress. Meanwhile, Gere kept it cool and casual in a navy jacket, a grey tee, and dark denim.

The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other, smiling and embracing as they posed for the cameras. Their radiant red carpet appearance comes just after they graced the cover of Elle Spain’s February issue, where they opened up about their move to Madrid.

Alejandra, who hails from Spain, had always dreamed of bringing their family—including their two young sons, Alexander, five, and James, four—to her home country.

Despite the 33-year age gap and the distance that once separated them, their love story is quite special. The two first crossed paths years ago through a mutual friend but reconnected in Italy in 2014, where sparks flew instantly.

What brought them together was their shared passion for humanitarian work and spirituality—two things that have remained at the core of their bond. After four years of romance, they made it official with an intimate wedding at Gere’s estate in upstate New York in 2018. Fast forward to today, and they’re living their best life in Madrid, the Daily Mail reported. 

And as for his career, Gere is far from done. “This is a wonderful encouragement. These lifetime achievement awards are always, I think, a little premature,” he quipped at the ceremony. “I have a lot more I expect to do.”