George Clooney on America: 'We'll get through it'
At Venice, George Clooney says America faces tough times but will recover, citing historical crises.
Speaking at the Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2026, actor George Clooney offered a measured but hopeful view of the United States, acknowledging deep current troubles while expressing confidence in the nation's resilience.
Asked how he sees the States today, Clooney described the present moment as "unfortunate," adding that calling it that might be "an understatement." Yet he quickly pivoted to optimism, saying, "I do believe that we're going to get through all of this."
Drawing on personal memory, the actor recalled 1968, a year of upheaval when American cities burned, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, and tanks surrounded the capital. "We've had some other difficult times, but this is one of them," he said.
Clooney then used the term "kakistocracy" — government by the least qualified — to describe the current U.S. administration. "I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now," he said, "but we'll get through it."
His remarks reflect a broader anxiety about American democracy, yet his tone remained grounded in historical perspective and personal faith in recovery.