While attending the Toronto International Film Festival's Our Brand Is Crisis conference recently, George Clooney joined others to discuss the upcoming Sandra Bullock film — as well as his thoughts on the current state of American politics. During the conference, Clooney shared his thoughts on Donald Trump's immigration comments. The actor has long been a passionate activist fighting for environmental reforms and the rights of immigrants, and has participated in numerous humanitarian efforts. His track record as a humanitarian is legendary, and when it comes to qualifications, Clooney would be far more qualified to be a celeb turned politician than Trump if he felt so inclined — which he has repeatedly stated that he doesn't. Instead, Clooney is content with continuing to make a difference where it counts — and when asked his opinion on Trump's controversial immigration thoughts, Clooney gave a flawless response.
... Clearly what he said is idiotic, of course he's idiotic. Anyone who says as intolerant as words as those should be laughed at, and I think that's eventually what history will do.
He, of course, makes a great point. Someone history won't be laughing at, though? Clooney himself, of course. The gracious star has spent his career doing far more than acting. He famously founded Not On Our Watch with his Ocean's Eleven co-stars Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Jerry Weintraub and David Pressman, which seeks to put an end to mass atrocities by tangibly helping those who are hit by war, disaster, and any other major crises all around the globe. Additionally, Clooney is on the front lines of fighting poverty, and is a member of the United Way Board of Trustees. In 2008, Clooney was named the United Nations Messenger Of Peace, and, more recently, he has been a strong supporter of equal rights in America, focusing on marriage equality while also participating in protests in Sudan (where Clooney was arrested for civil disobedience in 2012 for his peaceful attempts to raise awareness of the country's deadly Civil War).
Together with wife Amal Clooney, a British lawyer and fellow humanitarian, Clooney is busy making a tangible difference in the world. Meanwhile, Trump continues to play right into the kind of political showboating Our Brand Is Crisis plans to send up: With any luck, Clooney's words about Trump's lasting impact on history will come true.
When a man shows so little regard for human life that he would propose building a wall to keep an entire country full of people on the outside of America because such an outlandish idea could earn him votes and attention, then history has no choice but to move forward without him — making Trump a footnote while people like Clooney are remembered for all the positive changes they make on the world.
Reporting by Anna Klassen
