Trump praises late Robert Redford as 'great' despite actor once calling him 'dictator-like'

SUNDANCE, UTAH: Hollywood legend Robert Redford died peacefully in his sleep at age 89, leaving behind a career that shaped American cinema and independent film.

President Donald Trump, when informed about Redford’s death outside the White House on Tuesday, offered words of admiration despite the actor’s past criticism of him.

Donald Trump recalls Robert Redford as 'great' actor of his era

As Trump took questions on his upcoming meetings with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reporters asked about Redford’s death.

“Well, that’s a good way to go, I guess,” Trump said. “But I’ll tell ya, Robert Redford was great. He had a series of years, there was nobody better. This just happened, I guess, huh? Wow.”

When asked to name a favorite Redford movie, Trump opted for a broader view. “Well, you have a lot of them … I’d say he made seven or eight great movies, there was a period of time when he was the hottest. I thought he was great,” said Trump.

Robert Redford once called Donald Trump 'dictator-like'

Trump’s praise came even though Redford had spoken critically of him during his presidency.

In 2019, Redford published a column for NBC where he accused Trump of threatening American values.

“Our shared tolerance and respect for the truth, our sacred rule of law, our essential freedom of the press and our precious freedoms of speech — all have been threatened by a single man,” Redford wrote.

He described Trump as “dictator-like” in the piece. Trump, however, made no mention of those remarks when reacting to Redford’s death.

Hillary Clinton calls Robert Redford a 'true American icon'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Redford in a post on Instagram, praising his work on and off the screen.

“I always admired Robert Redford, not only for his legendary career as an actor and director but for what came next,” Clinton wrote.

“He championed progressive values like protecting the environment and access to the arts while creating opportunities for new generations of activists and filmmakers,” Clinton added.

She shared a photo of herself with Bill Clinton presenting Redford with the National Medal of Arts in 1997.

Robert Redford on his journey in final Instagram post 

In August, Redford marked his 89th birthday with a reflective Instagram post.

“Happy Birthday To My Humble Self,” he began.

“Firstly, I want to thank my fans been with me through every step, from Butch Cassidy to Ordinary People, and your support has meant the world. Your love for my work keeps me grounded and grateful.”

He looked back on winning a Bafta for 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' in 1971, an Oscar for directing 'Ordinary People' in 1980, and founding the Sundance Institute in 1981, which “sparked the indie film movement.”

Redford also spoke about challenges in his life, including dropping out of college, the death of his mother at 40, and the death of his son Scott.

“Personal losses, like my son Scott’s death, taught me resilience. It was grit, passion, and a love for art that got me here,” Redford wrote.

He ended his post by saying, “Your support makes it all worthwhile, thank you for being part of my journey.”

Robert Redford's Instagram to be deleted in his honor 

A statement on his official Instagram account later confirmed his death, reading: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Redford. In honour of his legacy, his Instagram account will be deleted,” the message said, accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

Sundance Institute, an organisation founded by Redford that supports independent filmmaking, also released a statement following the actor's death.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford," the statement said.

"Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the US and around the world," it added.

"Beyond his enormous contributions to culture at large, we will miss his generosity, clarity of purpose, curiosity, rebellious spirit, and his love for the creative process."

"We are humbled to be among the stewards of his remarkable legacy, which will continue to guide the Institute in perpetuity," it further said.