Donald Trump was criticized by the actor Edward Norton , who said the presidential administration faced "unprecedented" levels of incompetence and corruption compared to previous heads of state.
Trump's policies and recent actions continue to raise questions, particularly regarding immigration, the war with Iran, and the recent UFC event held at the White House.
The former businessman also recently got into a public spat with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming she begged him to take a photo with her.
Edward Norton said Trump was "worse than Nixon.".
During a recent appearance on Ted Danson's podcast "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," Edward Norton minced no words in criticizing Donald Trump and his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
In a conversation with Danson on the program, the four-time Oscar nominee compared their leadership to that of Richard Nixon and Robert McNamara.
«"I think they're far worse than Nixon and McNamara, Trump and Hegseth," Norton said. "Nixon and McNamara actually deserve some credit for competence. You know, terrible things happened, they were corrupt in some ways, and they lied.".
«"But we have reached a level of incompetence, fraud and corruption that is unparalleled in the history of this country," he added.
Trump has been repeatedly accused of corruption.
Nixon was the 37th president of the United States and remains the only American president to resign, leaving office in 1974 following the Watergate scandal.
Meanwhile, McNamara served as the eighth US Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the Cold War.
Trump has recently faced allegations of corruption, particularly following reports that he owned hundreds of millions of dollars worth of shares in major American companies.
Fans are praising Edward Norton for speaking out.
Norton's criticism of Trump resonated with many fans, who took to social media to praise the actor for speaking out.
«"Edward Norton has been saying things like this for years and people underestimate how politically astute he actually is, he's easily one of the most sensible celebrities on the subject," one Reddit user wrote.
Someone else said, "Good for you for speaking out against this government. Too many actors and actresses are afraid of being blacklisted." Another wrote, "Comments like these carry more weight. A lot of celebrities just say, 'Fuck Trump,' and that's it. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to add something meaningful.".
Donald Trump's hosting of a UFC event at the White House is fueling criticism.
Trump has come under fire for a number of his recent actions. The UFC "Freedom 250" event, held on the White House South Lawn to celebrate his 80th birthday and the country's 250th anniversary, sparked widespread backlash and even led to lawsuits seeking to cancel it.
Critics also widely blame him for escalating tensions in the Middle East, which contributed to the ongoing war with Iran.
A billionaire politician has further strained relations with Italy by claiming that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni begged him "again and again" to take a photo with her during the recent G7 summit in France.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Meloni of failing to support US efforts to prevent Iran from "obtaining or developing nuclear weapons." He also claimed she had created "major logistical inconveniences" by refusing to open Italian air bases to US military operations.
«"Now that the United States has won a military victory over Iran, she wants to befriend them again to 'gain popularity.' No thanks!" Trump concluded.
Georgia Meloni responded to Trump
Meloni responded on social media, calling Trump's "constant, unprovoked attacks" "senseless.".
«"As for my popularity, being friends with you certainly hasn't helped it, and it doesn't depend on our relationship," she wrote. "My popularity is none of your business. I suggest you focus on yours.".
The prime minister added that her popularity depends on the extent to which she puts Italy's national interests first, which she said she consistently does.
Commenting on her decision not to grant the US access to Italian air bases, Meloni said the issue was "governed by agreements" that her country had always respected and "which cannot be violated as long as I am prime minister.".
The conflict also prompted Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to cancel a planned visit to the United States, where he was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
«"President Trump's serious and offensive remarks against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are an insult to all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for June 21 and 22," Tajani wrote on X.
Read also: Larry David has criticized Donald Trump's UFC event at the White House, calling it a "disgrace.".