Hollywood Stars Challenge Trump on Independence Day

Several prominent figures from Hollywood, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Mark Ruffalo, Molly Ringwald, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Bradley Whitford, joined forces with author Timothy Snyder to release a video on July 4. This was an intentional counter against President Donald Trump’s celebrations as the nation marked its 250th anniversary.

As Trump led the America 250 festivities and addressed a substantial crowd, the celebrities reportedly viewed their initiative as a “call against tyranny,” as noted by sources.

Parker stated in the 10-minute video, “Two hundred fifty years ago, a revolutionary idea was born—not that freedom was guaranteed, but that ordinary people could govern themselves.” She emphasized, “Every generation since then has faced the same question: What do you do when your country wants and needs something from you?”

This particular video was made public through Timothy Snyder, who also had a few select individuals read aloud passages from his book published in 2017, which explores the patterns of authoritarianism.

Snyder remarked in the video’s introduction, “To celebrate rebellion is to know that something new can emerge from a flawed world.” He continued by stating that “we can endure, we can find each other, and we can not only imagine but create a better America. This is a special 250th. It is ours.”

The video also showcased appearances from other notable figures, like Lisa Rinna and Margaret Atwood, sharing insights from Snyder’s book about standing up to tyranny.

In a statement seen by some media outlets, Snyder described the participants as “friends of freedom,” urging viewers to reject complacency, likely in reference to Trump, who was set to address the public later that evening on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.