Stephen Fry isn’t one to hold back, and his latest comments prove it. Appearing on Laura Kuenssberg’s BBC panel on Sunday, the actor and writer took aim at Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the global rise of nationalism. And he didn’t mince his words.
‘Bullies have risen to the top’
Fry called out Trump’s admiration for dictators, saying it reveals the former US president’s true nature. He compared Trump’s behaviour to that of a school bully, thriving on fear and intimidation.
“Bullies feast on the fears they cause,” he said. “And look at who Trump admires—Putin, MSB in Saudi Arabia, Erdogan in Turkey, and Netanyahu in Israel. These are places shifting towards nationalism and, in some cases, fascism.”
AfD support ‘a real worry’
Fry also criticised JD Vance, questioning why Trump’s running mate joined Elon Musk in encouraging Germans to vote for the far-right AfD.
Although the AfD secured around 20% of the vote in Germany’s recent elections, their chances of taking power remain slim. Still, Fry sees their rise as a dangerous sign of where politics is heading.
“I’m deeply worried by the darkening shadow across the world—the shadow we have to call fascism. It’s a cult of power, and power only speaks to power.”
He warned that figures like Trump, Putin, and Musk show contempt for democracy, pushing the world in a direction that should concern everyone.
Fascism: ‘We have to realign ourselves’
Fry’s final message? Wake up.
He believes the world is at a crossroads and that recognising these political shifts is crucial. “This is a desperate time. It’s fascism,” he said. “We have to realign ourselves and recognise that this is no longer the proper world.”
His warning is clear—ignore the signs at your peril.
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