BS BULLETIN:
- George Clooney declared that America may be a “kakistocracy”—a country governed by its least-qualified people.
- The Democratic activist singled out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for mocking a female Canadian military cadet online.
- Clooney predicted the midterms would impose a check on Washington and hoped the 2028 election would restore “normalcy.”
George Clooney reached into the dictionary to deliver his latest verdict on American politics, declaring that the United States may now be a “kakistocracy.”
The 65-year-old actor and longtime Democratic activist made the assessment Wednesday at the Venice Film Festival, where he was receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
George Clooney says the U.S. is a “kakistocracy” right now, which means “a country run by the least qualified people”:
“In 2028, with any luck, we’ll have some restoration into normalcy.” https://t.co/BeBcI9kJB5 pic.twitter.com/PUbXtwWzQB
— Variety (@Variety) September 2, 2026
“There’s a great word, kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people,” Clooney said. “I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now, but we’ll get through it.”
Clooney described the current political moment as “unfortunate”—then called that an understatement.
Still, he insisted that he remained optimistic and noted that the country had survived other turbulent periods, including the assassinations, riots and political violence of 1968. “We lost Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy in the same year,” he said. “There was tons of violence. The Capitol was surrounded with tanks. We’ve had some other difficult times, but this is one of them.”
Clooney predicted that the November midterm elections would provide “a check and balance” and said that “with any luck” the 2028 presidential election would bring “some restoration into some normalcy.”
He then singled out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while criticizing what he described as growing cruelty in public life. “You see what the secretary of Defense just tweeted out—a picture about women from the military in Canada—and you’re going, ‘What’s wrong with you?’” Clooney said.
Hegseth had shared a photograph of a smiling female Canadian cadet receiving a medal from an instructor, adding the caption, “This is real,” with a Canadian flag emoji. The post appeared to mock the Canadian military amid continuing political and trade tensions between President Donald Trump and Ottawa.
Where is the sense of decency in all of it, and I’m ashamed of all that,” Clooney said. “But we will get through it, and we will come out better on the other side.”
Clooney has been an influential Democratic fundraiser and political voice for years. He also played a major role in the pressure campaign that helped drive President Joe Biden from the 2024 presidential race after publicly calling on him to withdraw.
MY QUICK TAKE
Only Hollywood could send a multimillionaire to an Italian film festival to accept a lifetime achievement award—and have him explain that America is run by the wrong elites.
Clooney is entitled to his opinion, and Hegseth’s cryptic swipe at a young Canadian cadet may have been needlessly petty.
But declaring half the government unqualified while waiting for your preferred party to rescue “normalcy” is less a profound diagnosis than standard partisan politics with a five-dollar vocabulary word.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- George Clooney calls America a “kakistocracy” and targets Pete Hegseth — Mediaite
- Clooney discusses American politics at the Venice Film Festival — Associated Press
- George Clooney says the United States is run by its “least qualified people” — AFP
- Venice Film Festival honors George Clooney with lifetime achievement award — La Biennale di Venezia
- Hegseth’s military culture-war focus draws criticism — Mediaite
