Actor and longtime human rights activist Richard Gere delivered a scathing condemnation of Donald Trump on Tuesday at the Freedom Forum in Oslo, Norway, where he attended the presentation of the International Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent.
«"We're living in the darkest time I've ever lived through on this planet," said the "Pretty Woman" star, who has been a frequent critic of Trump.
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«"Who would have thought America could change so much? Who would have thought such a maniac would become president of the United States?" he added.
Watch Gere's full commentary on YouTube.
Gere blamed Trump for the rapid destruction of the country since his return to the White House and placed some of the blame on ordinary citizens who "fell asleep," "didn't care," "didn't vote," and "basically didn't listen.".
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Actor and longtime human rights activist Richard Gere issued a strong condemnation of Donald Trump. Medios y Media via Getty Images
While stressing that he did not vote for Trump, Gere said he bears some responsibility for the president's return to power.
«"I have not done enough to skillfully convince the people around me, close and not close, that electing this man as president of the United States is madness," he said.
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The actor then made a pointed historical comparison, recalling a recent visit to the former Nazi concentration camp Dachau in Germany.
There, he said, he viewed exhibits documenting "the transformation of German society and German government" in the 1930s and "how quickly it happened.".
«"Good people turned into monsters," Gere said.
«"And I have seen this process in the United States," he added, before urging people to "be vigilant" against the rapid rise to power of a "monster dictatorship.".
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«"We can't sit back and say, 'Oh, life is great. I'm doing well. I have food. I have money. Blah-blah-blah. I have a house. I have another car. I think about it. I'm okay. I know he's a bad guy, but I'm okay,'" he said.
«"But that's unacceptable. That's unacceptable. That's never acceptable," Gere added.
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