Alec Baldwin has once again stirred controversy with his remarks following the election of Donald Trump as President. Speaking at a press conference in Turin, Italy, Baldwin claimed that Trump’s victory could be attributed to “uninformed” voters. While sidestepping questions about his involvement in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of Rust, Baldwin turned his attention to American voters and the political climate in the U.S.
In his comments, Baldwin suggested that a significant portion of Americans were uninformed about the issues shaping the world today. “In my country, without going into significant detail, half the people in the country are very unhappy,” Baldwin said. “It’s a very difficult time in the United States. Americans are very uninformed about reality, what’s really going on — with climate change, Ukraine, Israel, you name it. All of the biggest topics in the world, Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information.”
Baldwin’s comments quickly sparked backlash from Trump supporters, many of whom took offense at his suggestion that they were misinformed or uneducated. “’Uninformed’ = Hollywoodspeak for ‘have not yet been programmed to share my opinions,’” wrote Tom Elliott, founder of the news platform Grabien. Other critics echoed similar sentiments, calling Baldwin out for his elitist attitude toward regular Americans.
Even actor Robert Davi, who does not count Baldwin as a close friend, responded to the comments, defending those Baldwin labeled as “uninformed.” Davi pointed out that public figures like Robert Kennedy Jr., Elon Musk, and Donald Trump were hardly uninformed, urging Baldwin to reconsider his broad dismissal of millions of Americans who voted for Trump. “You think Robert Kennedy Jr., who was once a friend of yours, you denigrate him? You think he’s uninformed?” Davi said in a video response. “You think Elon Musk is uninformed? You think Donald Trump is uninformed? Shame on you.”
Baldwin, who had just received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Turin Film Festival, continued to distance himself from any serious reflection on the outcome of the election or the broader political divide in America. With Trump securing 312 electoral votes and the Democrats underperforming in key states, Baldwin’s remarks seemed to further fuel the cultural and political divide that has deepened in the country.
While Baldwin’s comments may reflect the bubble of Hollywood liberalism, they miss the larger point that millions of Americans, regardless of their views on climate change or foreign policy, cast their votes based on concerns that often go ignored by elite figures like Baldwin. As Trump’s victory has shown, the electorate is more diverse in thought and opinion than many in Hollywood seem willing to acknowledge.
WATCH:
Alec Baldwin in Italy: After Trump's victory, "half the people in the country are very unhappy, it’s a very difficult time … Americans are really uninformed about reality, what's really going on — w/ climate change, Ukraine, you name it … Americans have an appetite for a… pic.twitter.com/YRy99owNq7
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 26, 2024