VENICE — George Clooney took aim at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, condemning a social media post that appeared to mock Canada's military and questioning the official's moral compass.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where he was receiving a lifetime achievement award, Clooney told reporters, “You see what the secretary of Defense just tweeted out a picture about women from the military in Canada, and you're going, ‘What's wrong with you?'” He added, “Where's the sense of decency in all of this?”
The actor, known for his political activism, was referring to a post Hegseth made on X earlier this week. The Defense secretary shared a screenshot from a Canadian Cadet Program Instagram account that highlighted award recipients, adding a Canadian flag emoji and the comment “(this is real).” The post came amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, including threats of new tariffs.
Clooney, 65, expressed shame over the incident, saying, “I'm ashamed of all that. The idea that cruelty is the base — that being cruel and unkind is part of the fun of all of this.” He remained hopeful, however, stating, “But we will get through it, and we will come out better on the other side.”
When asked about his view of the United States, Clooney acknowledged the current political climate but drew on historical perspective. “I'm always very optimistic about things, and I do believe that … we're at a moment in time that's unfortunate — I think that's an understatement. I do believe that we're going to get through all of this,” he said. He recalled the turbulence of 1968, when cities burned and leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated.
Clooney, a prominent Democratic fundraiser and outspoken critic of President Trump, used the term “kakistocracy” to describe the current administration. “There's a great word: kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people,” he said. “I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now, but we'll get through it.”
Looking ahead, Clooney expressed optimism about the upcoming midterm elections, which he sees as a potential check on the administration. “We will have an election in November that should be a check and balance,” he said. He also voiced hope for 2028, saying, “with any luck, we'll have some restoration into some normalcy.”
The clash between Clooney and Hegseth highlights the broader friction between the administration and critics over its handling of military and diplomatic issues, including concerns about military readiness amid trade disputes.
