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Richard Gere accuses Donald Trump of dismantling the United States: “We live the darkest moment”

Richard Gere accuses Donald Trump of dismantling the United States: “We live the darkest moment”

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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- Actor Richard Gere called the current era the

Actor and human rights activist Richard Gere declared that the world is experiencing its "darkest moment" in recent times, criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump for dismantling the nation's ideals. Speaking at the Oslo Freedom Forum, Gere rhetorically questioned how the United States could take such a turn and how a "maniac" could become president.

We are living the darkest moment I have ever lived on this planet. Who would have thought that the United States would take this turn? Who would have thought that a maniac would be president of the United States?

— Richard GereGere's rhetorical questions at the Oslo Freedom Forum about the current state of the U.S.

Gere, 76, stated that while the U.S. was never perfect, it always had a perfect ideal to strive for and a capacity for self-correction. However, he accused Trump of dismantling "everything that was good about the U.S. government and the American people" from his first day in office, asserting that the country was dismantled "in weeks."

The United States was never a perfect place, but it has a perfect ideal to strive for and has been capable of self-correction.

— Richard GereGere's description of the U.S. ideal before criticizing Trump's actions.

Recalling a trip to the Dachau concentration camp, Gere drew parallels between the transformation of German society and government in the 1930s, where good people became monsters, and the current situation. He warned of the rapid arrival of "dictatorships of monsters" and urged vigilance, cautioning against complacency even for those who feel personally secure.

from the first day, this guy has dismantled almost everything that was good about the U.S. government and the people of the United States.

— Richard GereGere's accusation regarding Trump's impact on the U.S.

Gere, who was a guest at the forum where the Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissidence was awarded, also reflected on the role of citizens in Trump's election. He admitted that while he did not vote for Trump, he did not work hard enough to convince others, urging everyone to take responsibility. He stressed that comfort and personal security are not enough when the nation's ideals are at stake.

In weeks, he dismantled the United States.

— Richard GereGere's emphasis on the speed of Trump's perceived damage to the U.S.
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Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.