Jane Fonda has shared her fears about the state of the country as she pleaded for the left and right to come together.
The Oscar-winning actress, 88, who has starred in the likes of Klute and Coming Home, was speaking to Stephen Colbert on The Late Show when she made the stark warning, referencing President Donald Trump and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Why It Matters
Fonda has long been outspoken about politics, and, in the 1970s, she was active in the anti-Vietnam War movement.
In 2025, she used her acceptance speech for the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award to call for resistance against policies and attitudes she viewed as divisive.
Fonda has previously criticized Trump, including for his stance on climate change.
Her new comments come as protests explode across Minnesota in opposition to federal immigration clampdowns in the state. Newsweek has contacted The White House for comment on this story.
What To Know
Fonda appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, where she took the opportunity to blast the political situation under Donald Trump, and called for unity against what she saw as “authoritarian” policies.
“We’re seeing things happen that have never happened before,” Fonda said, wearing a sweater with the word “resist” emblazoned on it.
“Authoritarianism has made its way into every nook and cranny of our government. They are kidnapping people, they are illegally deporting American citizens,” she added.
Referencing the killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, Fonda said: “They’re shooting people. They’re blinding people.”
On January 16, CBS spoke to 21-year-old Kaden Rummler, who said he was blinded in his left eye after being shot by a less-lethal round in the face by an ICE officer, while protesting against the killing of Good.
Fonda added: “All kinds of really bad things are happening, and it’s not a question of right or left. I don’t care what party you belong to; it’s a question of right or wrong.
“I think lines are being crossed, and it’s enough,” she said, to applause from the audience.
What People Are Saying
On X, user @charise_lee, who describes themselves as a Democrat in their bio, said: “Jane Fonda is always on the right side of history.”
User @ogdenjohnboy, who has previously criticized Democrats on their account, posted: “White liberal lunatic Hanoi Jane Fonda continues to try and tell us how we all should live the good liberal life.”
Trump fan @Trumpgirlonfire called Fonda a “traitor and anti-American figure,” and @frogwhompers, who has criticized the president on their account, wrote: “I totally agree with Jane Fonda. I absolutely respect and admire her decency and her love and advocacy for our country and human rights.”
In response to Trump being voted in for a second term, Fonda relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, first created during the McCarthy era, to stand for “free speech and free expression” against the government.
A White House spokesperson told The Hill in response at the time that Trump is “is a strong supporter of free speech and Democrat allegations to the contrary are so false, they’re laughable. Hanoi Jane is free to share whatever bad opinions she wants.”
What Happens Next
Celebrities have been voicing their opposition to ICE and the Trump administration at recent major events, with the likes of Mark Ruffalo voicing concerns on the Golden Globes red carpet.
Other celebrities had worn pins in support of Good and against ICE at the awards show, and with the 98th Oscars coming up on March 15, it is possible the public will hear more celebrities sharing their views on the political climate.
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