Overview
- Richard Gere, 76, made the remarks on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the Oslo Freedom Forum while presenting the Vaclav Havel Prize for creative dissent.
- Gere described President Donald Trump as an "insane person" and said "we live in the darkest moment" while accusing Trump of dismantling what was good in U.S. government from his first day.
- He cited a recent visit to the Dachau concentration memorial to warn how fast dictatorship can arise and urged people to recognize warning signs and stay politically engaged.
- At the ceremony Gere awarded the prize to imprisoned Chinese artist Gao Zhen and Myanmar dissident Sai, linking his political critique to the forum's focus on human rights and creative dissent.
- Coverage published June 2 reports Gere's speech widely but does not include an immediate response from the White House, and the remarks are being carried as part of human rights reporting rather than an ongoing political exchange.