Richard Gere tears into ‘maniac’ Trump, warns US being led by ‘dictatorship of monsters’

OSLO, NORWAY: Hollywood icon Richard Gere at an awards ceremony in Oslo, sharply criticized President Donald Trump, labeling him a “maniac” who has “dismantled almost everything that was good” about the United States.

During his speech, the actor warned that “we’re living in the darkest moment that I’ve experienced on this planet” due to the current state of American politics.

Gere slams Trump for allegedly destroying American values

Richard Gere on Tuesday, June 2, addressed the attendees for the Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent, expressing his profound shock at the current political landscape. 

He questioned how the country reached this point, asking, “Who ever thought America could turn like this? Who ever thought that a maniac like this would be president of the United States?”

According to the 76-year-old star, the harm was immediate and widespread. He argued that from the very beginning, “First day, this guy dismantled almost everything that was good about the US government and the US people.”

Gere blames public apathy for political downfall

The actor also used his time on stage to admit that he had not done enough to prevent Trump’s return to the White House.

He blamed a general sense of apathy among citizens for the current administration's rise.

He explained his frustration by stating, “How is this even possible? Because we went to sleep. We didn’t care. We didn’t vote. We didn’t really listen.” 

Although he admitted that the country was never perfect, he insisted that it had always been self-correcting and guided by an ideal.

He warned the audience, “But you see, how quickly our world can be taken from us. If we fall asleep, and we have to see the cues.”

Gere warns against a dictatorship of monsters

To emphasize the danger of ignoring political warning signs, Gere referenced his recent visit to the Dachau concentration camp.

He highlighted how quickly democratic societies can crumble if the public fails to act.

He urged everyone to remain alert to avoid the emergence of a “dictatorship of the monsters.”

This isn't Gere's first time publicly attacking President Trump, in February 2025, while accepting a lifetime achievement award at Spain’s Goya Awards, he labeled the president a “bully and a thug.”

Gere, who has lived in Spain with his wife, Alejandra Silva, since 2024, insisted that constant awareness is the only way to protect democracy. 

He concluded his address by stressing the urgency of the moment, telling the audience, “This, dictatorship of the monsters, how quickly it happens. We have to be vigilant.”