Kakistocracy

Veteran film star George Clooney said Wednesday the United States would surmount an "unfortunate" time in its history under the Trump administration, calling it a government run by the "least qualified people". Clooney spoke to the media on the opening day of the Venice Film Festival, where he is to be awarded a Golden Lion for career achievement.

"There's a great word, a kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people. I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now, but we'll get through it," said the 65-year-old star. Midterm elections in November may provide a "check and balance", he said, while "in 2028 with any luck we'll have some restoration into some normalcy."

"Where's the sense of decency?"

Clooney cited a tweet posted this week by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appearing to mock the physical appearance of an overweight female Canadian soldier presenting a medal at a youth camp. "Where's the sense of decency in all of this? And I'm ashamed of all of that, but we will get through it," said Clooney. "And we will come out better on the other side."

Calling himself an optimist, Clooney remembered living through other dark times in the country's history, including 1968 when Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. "There was tons of violence. The Capitol was surrounded with tanks," he said. "We've had some other difficult times, but this is one of them."