Clooney Comes Back To Attack Trump Ally

George Clooney has sharply criticized him over a social media post that appeared to mock members of Canada’s military, questioning why such a message would come from a senior U.S. government official.

Clooney addressed the controversy Wednesday while speaking with reporters at the Venice Film Festival, where he was being honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The actor said he was troubled by what he viewed as an unnecessarily mocking tone toward Canadian military personnel.

His comments followed a post Hegseth published Monday on X featuring a screenshot from Canada’s Cadet Program. The original post highlighted young cadets who had received awards through the country’s military youth program.

Hegseth reposted the image with the brief message “(this is real)” along with a Canadian flag emoji. The post appeared as tensions between Washington and Ottawa were already elevated because of an ongoing trade dispute.

Clooney said the episode raised broader questions about the tone being used by some public officials.

He argued that treating cruelty or humiliation as entertainment was troubling and said he was ashamed of the episode. Clooney also expressed hope that the United States would eventually move beyond what he described as a particularly difficult period.

The actor, who has been openly critical of President Donald Trump and has supported Democratic political causes, said he remains optimistic about the country’s future.

Clooney pointed to the turmoil of 1968 as an example of another extraordinarily difficult period in American history. He recalled the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, widespread unrest and violence, and the military presence around Washington that year.

He argued that the country has survived other periods of intense division and predicted that it would eventually move beyond the current political climate as well.

Clooney went on to use the term “kakistocracy,” a word referring to government by people viewed as the least qualified to govern. He suggested that the term could describe the current situation in Washington, while again emphasizing his belief that the country would eventually recover.

The actor also looked ahead to the next two election cycles, saying he expects the November midterm elections to provide an important check on political power and expressing hope that the 2028 presidential election could bring a return to greater political normalcy.

Clooney’s criticism comes as the relationship between the United States and Canada faces increased strain over trade and tariffs. The two countries have long maintained close military and economic ties, making public disputes involving their respective governments particularly sensitive.

Hegseth has not publicly indicated that his post was intended as a broader criticism of the Canadian military, and the social media message itself was brief.

The episode nevertheless illustrates how even a short post from a high-ranking administration official can generate controversy, particularly when it involves a longtime U.S. ally during an already tense diplomatic dispute.