Robert Redford blames President Donald Trump’s shocking election win last year on America losing its ‘moral foundation.’
‘We let him come to where he is,’ Redford said during an interview with Esquire magazine published on Wednesday. ‘He’s our fault—that’s how I see it.’
The 81-year-old actor, who is promoting his latest film -Our Souls at Night- lamented the fact that the discourse in America today has gotten so toxic, it created room for a figure like Trump to emerge as a plausible President.
Robert Redford receives the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award during the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2017 in Venice, Italy
‘Politics right now is in a very dark place, and I think the only place for me is to do what I do—make films, create art, watch it as it evolves,’ he said.
‘Right now it’s like Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall, and a great fall is happening. The behavior seems to be really dumb.’
At times, Redford struck a measured and insightful tone, questioning America’s ability to self-reflect and how the country has arrived at its current juncture.
‘I’m not so interested in blaming him; that’s being done enough by others. I’m more interested in: How did this happen?’
‘We’ve lost our moral foundation,’ Redford continued, ‘which allows us to go this far over. So I don’t blame him. I just think he is what he is. We’re the ones who let that happen. We should be looking at ourselves.’
Robert Redford said he blames America losing its moral foundation for President Donald Trump’s election victory last year
Redford also slammed Congress, bristling at what he believed was the legislative body’s lack of respect for the American people.
‘They assume that you’re dumb; they can take advantage of you being dumb,’ Redford said.
‘I find that offensive. It insults our intelligence. They’re playing us for dumb and they’re being dumb in doing it.’
Redford, however, was optimistic about the future, putting faith in the notion that today’s political landscape will evolve.
‘I have faith in the pendulum swinging. Right now it’s so far against the wall that it can’t go any farther; it’s gonna start to swing back. That’s my optimism.’
Asked what he would say if he had a personal meeting with the commander-in-chief, Redford replied: ‘Quit. For our benefit.’