Morgan Freeman Unleashes Scathing Critique of President Trump During Live Television Interview
In a remarkable and unscripted moment on live television, legendary actor Morgan Freeman delivered a blistering assessment of President Donald Trump, labelling him a "convicted felon" and declaring that he is "leading us down a s***hole." The 88-year-old Oscar winner made these incendiary comments during an appearance on The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell on MS NOW, where he was promoting his new historical drama series The Gray House, which he executive produced for Prime Video.
Freeman's Profanity-Laced Political Outburst
When asked by the host to describe his current worldview, Freeman first inquired, "Can I use any profanity?" before launching into his critique. "Well, we have somebody sitting in the White House who is leading us down a s***hole," he stated unequivocally. The actor expressed profound bewilderment at Trump's political standing despite his legal convictions, questioning aloud, "I can't personally understand how a convicted felon... convicted! [Someone with] 34 felonious counts of wrongdoing gets to be president. How do you do that?"
Freeman dismissed arguments from Trump's defenders about his right to hold office despite his convictions, asserting firmly, "I don't care! That ruling went down before he stepped into the Oval Office. It just doesn't make sense to me."
The Legal Context: Trump's 2024 Conviction
The actor's reference to Trump's felony status relates directly to the former president's 2024 conviction in New York. A unanimous 12-person jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in what became known as the hush money case. The jury determined beyond reasonable doubt that Trump not only participated in falsifying business records but did so to commit or conceal another crime—specifically, violating state law against conspiracy to influence an election through "unlawful means."
These unlawful means included violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, falsification of additional business records, and breaches of both state and federal tax laws. All 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree stemmed from Trump's reimbursements to his former lawyer Michael Cohen for the hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. This payment was intended to suppress Daniels' story about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, which threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign.
Freeman's Parallel Concerns About Artificial Intelligence
Earlier on the same day, Freeman appeared on CBS Mornings where he voiced significant concerns about the proliferation of artificial intelligence technology. When questioned about how he would address companies using AI to replicate his distinctive voice or likeness, the Shawshank Redemption star responded pragmatically, "I've got lawyers."
Freeman acknowledged a nuanced perspective on the issue, suggesting that compensation might alter his stance. "I think that's a different outlook on it," he remarked. He recalled a precedent from 2011 when British insurance company More Than paid him "handsomely" to use the tagline "MoreThan Freeman" in commercials featuring a British voice actor who could imitate his vocal qualities. "I said: 'Yeah, that works,'" Freeman noted, highlighting his conditional acceptance of such arrangements when properly negotiated and compensated.
The actor's dual appearances provided a striking contrast between his concerns about political leadership and technological advancement, though his comments about Trump generated significantly more attention and controversy. Freeman's willingness to speak so candidly on politically charged topics during a promotional tour underscores his continued relevance as both a cultural icon and outspoken public figure.
