Americans 'should demonstrate like the French,' says Woody Harrelson

The National Times - Americans 'should demonstrate like the French,' says Woody Harrelson

CULTURE 16.05.2026

Americans 'should demonstrate like the French,' says Woody Harrelson / Photo: © AFP

US actor Woody Harrelson told AFP that Americans should "demonstrate like the French" because "we let our government get away with so much" as he premiered a new black comedy Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival.

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The "Larry Flynt" and "Natural Born Killers" star -- who describes himself as "anarchist or probably more a libertarian" -- insisted he loved "French people protesting".

"The French are like, no way. It's refreshing. I wish we were more like that," he said.

Harrelson, who famously said that he "felt dirty" after spending an evening with US President Donald Trump two decades ago, said "this whole world's going to hell in a handbasket".

He plays alongside fellow Hollywood star Kristen Stewart in "Full Phil", the latest wacky dark comedy from French director Quentin Dupieux, best known for "Rubber", his cult B-movie absurdist horror about a serial killer car tyre.

Harrelson said that although "I live in a bubble... at least I'm aware that we are in some serious trouble.

"I feel like there's a lot of terrible shit happening and people are just busy on their phones."

Harrelson's famous rant against Trump first surfaced in 2016 at the Toronto Film Festival, and he later said he was so bored with his "brutal" evening with him that he had to go smoke a joint afterwards.

M.Wilson--TNT

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The National Times - Americans 'should demonstrate like the French,' says Woody Harrelson