Donald Trump recently sent 300 California National Guard troops to Oregon, Rob Reiner uses his platform to warn that democracy is in danger.
The Oscar candidate pleaded that it was “our work now” as a storyteller in Hollywood to draw attention to recent attacks against freedom of expression and the militarization of major cities, as well as Trump’s attempt to “requisition the election” thanks to the gerrymandering of voters before the mid 2026.
“It is beyond McCarthy Era-Esque. It seems picturesque compared to what is happening in America at the moment,” said Reiner to MSNBC before referenced the recent recovery of Jane Fonda of the committee of his father Henry for the first amendment, initially started in response to the McCarthy era.
Reiner added: “The Hollywood community is very aware that their first amendment rights are violated. We saw what happened to Jimmy Kimmel. So we are well aware of what’s going on. But our work now, as communicators, is to start communicating to the rest of the country, to let them know what will happen to them.
“The two big things an autocrat needs, they need to control the media, which they are trying to do,” he said, citing Apple TV + The scientistExit in response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as well as Kimmel’s recent suspension of his end of evening post in the middle of the apparent pressure of the FCC.
“And they need military control of the streets, and that’s the other thing we see,” said Reiner. “So we’re right there, and we are going downhill in a very, very fast way. And we have to find a way to stop it.”
On Sunday, Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump for “his breathless abuse of the law and power” after Potus deployed 300 troops from the California National Guard in Oregon, in addition to boots on the ground in Chicago.
“This is only the beginning. And people must understand that our democracy is removed from us, and we only have about a year, just to be clear about it,” said Reiner.
“Make no mistake; we have a year before this country became a complete autocracy, and democracy leaves us completely,” he continued. “And we examine the elections in 2026, and Donald Trump knows that during a free and fair election, he will lose. He will lose the room, the room will turn around and become in democratic hands. There will be committee chairs that will be able to hold meetings, and that is the last thing he wants.”
Reiner added: “We must make sure that the public is absolutely aware that their democracy is removed from them, and we must do our best to make sure people understand it.”
