Alan Cumming has delivered a damning assessment of the United States under President Donald Trump, describing it as “a fascist country.”
The New York-based actor, longtime LGBTQ+ advocate and host of “The Traitors” told the Radio Times it’s “so great” to currently be spending more time in his native Scotland, where the hit reality competition show is filmed.
“To feel that you’re in a country that has a government aligned with your values is so great. To feel the kindness that I feel around me in Scotland and for it not to be seen as a weakness is so affirming,” said Cumming, who is no stranger to speaking out against Trump and has previously tongue-in-cheek invited the president to compete on “Traitors” because “he’d have a little chaos and turmoil and treachery.”
“Of course, there are kind people in America and I live in New York, which is a different kettle of fish to the rest of America, but the government…” Cumming added. “It is a fascist country and I’m paying taxes to it. It’s horrible.”
Cumming, promoting new TV drama “Tip Toe,” suggested Trump’s rise to the Oval Office was fueled by a racist backlash to former President Barack Obama.
“I love Obama but I do feel he didn’t do us a favour by not letting on about the level of racism and fury he was subjected to,” Cumming said.
The actor also called out the nostalgic tone of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. “Make America like the 1950s again, more like,” he said. “When Black people would serve you, you could do whatever you liked, and anyone who you didn’t like, you would get the boys to duff them up. That’s what they want. That’s what they’re creating.”