Richard Gere has delivered a stark political warning in Oslo, describing the current moment in the United States as the darkest he has ever experienced. Speaking at an awards ceremony for the Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent, the 76-year-old actor criticized Donald Trump in unusually blunt terms and accused the U.S. president of rapidly undermining democratic institutions.
Gere, best known for films such as Pretty Woman and American Gigolo, told the audience that many people failed to prevent Trump’s return to the White House. He said the problem was not only political but also cultural, arguing that Americans became complacent and did not pay enough attention, vote, or respond with urgency. He suggested that the country’s descent was enabled by public inaction as much as by Trump’s rise.
The actor said Trump had dismantled much of what was good about the U.S. government and the American people on his first day back in office. He also repeated criticism he had made earlier in 2025, when he called Trump a bully. His comments in Oslo reflected a continuing pattern of outspoken opposition to the Republican leader.
Gere made the remarks while announcing the prize recipients at the Oslo Freedom Forum, where Chinese artist Gao Zhen and Myanmar anti-junta dissident Sai were honored for their resistance to authoritarian power. His speech connected their struggles with broader concerns about democracy, repression and the speed at which authoritarianism can take hold.
The actor said he had recently visited the former Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, and said the experience reinforced his belief that people must stay alert to warning signs. He warned that dictatorship can emerge quickly if societies fail to recognize the early cues. He framed vigilance as essential, urging people to remain aware of how easily freedom can erode.
A longtime advocate for Tibet and a Buddhist convert, Gere has for years been active on human rights issues. He has often met with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader who has long been at odds with China over Tibet’s political status. Gere’s public activism has frequently placed him in conflict with authoritarian governments and has made him a prominent celebrity voice on dissent and freedom of expression.
Since 2024, Gere has lived in Spain with his wife, Alejandra Silva. His comments in Oslo added to a long history of political engagement and underscored his concern that democratic systems remain vulnerable when citizens become disengaged. The speech, delivered in front of hundreds, was one of his most forceful public statements against Trump and in defense of vigilance against authoritarianism.
