Clooney Blasts Hegseth Over Joke About Canada’s Military: ‘Where’s The Sense Of Decency In All Of This?'

Actor and activist George Clooney spoke out against War Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking, “Where’s the sense of decency in all of this?”

The actor questioned Hegseth’s “sense of decency” after made fun of Canada’s military on X. Clooney’s remarks came at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday. The “Good Night, and Good Luck” star was being honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

“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.

“Where’s the sense of decency in all of this?” Clooney asked.

Hegseth posted a photo and caption on the social platform X Monday seemingly mocking the physical appearance of some of the Canadian military’s cadets.

Hegseth’s post was a screenshot of an Instagram post from a branch of Canada’s Cadet Program that highlighted some recipients of awards in the Canadian military’s youth program. 

“(this is real),” Hegseth posted, along with an emoji of a Canadian flag.

The barb was posted as there are trade dispute and heightened tensions between the U.S. and Canada.

Clooney, 65, said, “I’m ashamed of all that. The idea that cruelty is the base — that being cruel and unkind is part of the fun of all of this.”

“But we will get through it, and we will come out better on the other side,” Clooney said.

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https://x.com/AFP/status/2095172445825032197?s=20

Clooney was asked how he views the U.S.

“I’m always very optimistic about things, and I do believe that … we’re at a moment in time that’s unfortunate — I think that’s an understatement,” he replied. “I do believe that we’re going to get through all of this.”

“I’m old enough to have been through 1968 in the states, when every city in the United States was set on fire, and we lost Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. The same year, there was tons of violence. The capital was surrounded with tanks,” the Academy he continued.

“We’ve had some other difficult times, but this is one of them,” Clooney said.

“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 penned an op-ed in New York Times in 2024 when he called for then-President Joe Biden to drop his bid for reelection.

“We will have an election in November that should be a check and balance,” he said. “And then in 2028, with any luck, we’ll have some restoration into some normalcy.”