On Monday, White House communications director Stephen Chan criticized actor Richard Gere, making a rather inflammatory comment about him.
“Honestly, I can’t take advice from someone who might have…well, you know,” Chan posted on X, attaching a screenshot from a 2020 article that questioned the infamous rumor surrounding Gere and a gerbil.
One article I came across mentioned, “This rumor has been around for ages, becoming almost a cultural staple.” It’s curious how Gere manages to remain somewhat dignified amid all this speculation.
Chan’s comments came as a response to a video shared by another user where Gere was criticizing President Donald Trump during an interview. Gere had lauded USAID, mentioning it was the “purest thing America had done” until Trump’s presidency.
“USAID was a program aimed at helping the less fortunate in various areas like health and education,” Gere noted, adding that he distanced himself from the administration once it turned away from such initiatives.
“It was outrageous,” Gere expressed further. “He doesn’t even grasp what USAID stands for, and there are people around him who seem just as uninformed.”
The actor described the situation surrounding USAID as “embarrassing,” questioning the nation’s pride, especially since the U.S. likes to boast about its wealth and power.
“If you’re the most powerful nation, shouldn’t you be helping those in need?” Gere opined during the conversation.
In response, the White House countered Gere’s criticisms regarding the Trump administration’s realignment of USAID funding, stating that billions had been misallocated to questionable initiatives abroad.
“Imagine a world where we fund dubious foreign projects instead of addressing local needs,” the White House’s rapid response team remarked on X on Monday, expressing gratitude for the changes made by the administration.
In a revelation from May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that only a fraction of the funding from USAID went to its intended purpose, with just 12 cents of each dollar reaching those truly in need.
“Our goal is to streamline aid delivery directly to individuals who require it,” Rubio said, emphasizing a more effective and focused approach to foreign assistance.
