Richard Gere Delivers Scathing Critique of US Politics Abroad
BERLIN, GERMANY – Actor Richard Gere has voiced profound “shame” regarding the United States’ current political climate, specifically targeting President Donald Trump during a recent speech delivered in Europe. The actor, who spent time living in Spain with his family before returning to the U.S. late last year, spoke at an event in Berlin on Thursday, marking a significant public address on his concerns.
Criticism of Trump and Immigration Rhetoric
Gere, 76, speaking at the launch of his foundation’s joint migration initiative with the Hertie School Centre for Fundamental Rights, did not hold back in his criticism of the current U.S. administration. He questioned the nation’s trajectory, asking the audience, “Did it ever cross your mind that America could sink to this level? Did you ever imagine that someone as crazy as this would become President of the United States and work to destroy it?”
The veteran actor extended his sharp remarks to the U.S. government’s language concerning immigrants. He highlighted the evolving terminology used, noting a shift from terms like “vermin” to “aliens.” Gere stated with evident dismay, “I’m deeply ashamed of this, I want you to know.” He emphasized the shared humanity of migrants and refugees, arguing against their categorization as fundamentally different from others. “The simple truth that we’re all connected by movement, by our own humanity, by journeys that have come before for us,” he asserted.
Broader Concerns and Past Statements
This is not the first instance of Gere publicly expressing strong opinions about the political landscape. Earlier in the week, at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway, he referred to Trump as a “maniac.” During that event, he described the current era as “the darkest moment that I’ve experienced on this planet.” Gere also admitted a degree of self-blame, suggesting a collective failure to act, stating, “We went to sleep. We didn’t care. We didn’t vote. We didn’t really listen.” He further contended that the administration has actively dismantled positive aspects of the U.S. government and its people from its inception, urging vigilance against what he termed “the dictatorship of the monsters.”
Personal Relocation and European Expatriates
Gere and his wife, Alejandra Silva, 43, relocated their family to Spain in late 2024, spending approximately a year in Madrid before returning to the United States late last year. While the timing of their move to Spain coincided with President Trump’s election victory, Silva previously indicated that the relocation was not directly tied to the political outcome, though she acknowledged feeling “privileged” to have the option to “escape and go somewhere.” The couple, along with their sons Alexander, seven, and James, six, had sold their Connecticut property before settling in Spain. This trend of Hollywood figures seeking residences abroad is notable, with other celebrities like Amber Heard, Eva Longoria, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem also establishing or spending significant time in European locations such as Madrid and Marbella.
Gere has consistently been a vocal critic of the Trump administration for years. In February 2025, while accepting an International Goya Award, he described the situation in America as “a very dark place in America, where we have a bully, a thug, who’s the president of the United States.” He broadened his scope, noting that these issues were not confined to the U.S. but were present “everywhere.””
Background of Gere and Silva
Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva first met in 2014 on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. They married in 2018 at Gere’s estate in upstate New York. Prior to their marriage, both had navigated previous divorces. Silva has a son from her previous marriage to Canadian businessman Govind Friedland.
