Richard Gere Critiques Trump Over Current State of the Nation

Actor Richard Gere has openly criticized President Donald Trump, expressing concerns over what he believes Trump has “done to this country.”

In a chat about his role as executive producer of wisdom of happiness, a documentary focusing on the current Dalai Lama, Gere noted that the spiritual leader is understandably upset with Trump.

According to Gere, the Dalai Lama’s projects have a “medicinal quality,” addressing the “deep illnesses” humanity faces today.

“We are heading in the wrong direction, and things have worsened over the years. There’s this glaring absence of kindness in how people communicate,” Gere stated. “This is obviously a failure of our leaders, particularly the ones in charge now. It’s astonishing. We all share in the responsibility.”

This perspective has led some actors who align with a particular political party to lash out at Trump, labeling their opponents “Nazis.”

Gere expressed skepticism about whether the Dalai Lama’s moral teachings will resonate with Trump. “I really can’t tell if it has any impact on him,” he said.

“I truly hope so,” he continued. “But honestly, it boggles the mind to think about what he’s done to this country and how it feels to be an American now, 10 or 11 months later. It’s astonishing—something no one could have envisioned.”

Interestingly, Gere did not acknowledge that the Dalai Lama has, at times, echoed sentiments similar to Trump’s. For instance, in 2016, he expressed concerns about Europe taking in too many refugees, suggesting they should only be allowed in “temporarily.” He also cautioned against the Islamization of Europe.

Nonetheless, the Dalai Lama has labeled Trump’s presidency as lacking moral integrity. Although he mentioned in 2016 that he wasn’t particularly troubled by Trump, he described the “America First” policy as “wrong.”

On his part, Gere has positioned himself as a vocal critic of Trump and the Republican Party, branding Trump and his supporters a “dark entity” that “almost destroyed this country,” mainly for their opposition to progressive ideals. He has called Trump a “thug” and a “bully,” also taking issue with Trump’s stringent immigration policies.