Actor and playwright Jeff Daniels said Monday that if President Trump wins a 2020 reelection campaign, it would spell “the end of democracy.”
Appearing on MSNBC, Daniels discussed Aaron Sorkin’s Broadway adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” in which he stars as lawyer Atticus Finch. Daniels, who is from the Midwest, spoke about people who supported Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
“I live in Michigan, and after the election I was surprised at some of the people. I said, ‘Can you believe this election?’ and they go, ‘Yeah, isn’t it great?’” Daniels said, expressing shock at the reaction.
“I know these people; they’re good people,” Daniels continued. “And I think there are people in the Midwest, between the coasts, who don’t know anything about— who don’t care about this, who don’t have time for this, who have to make a decision now. You have to decide whether, like Atticus, you believe that there is still compassion, decency, civility, respect for others.”
“Your kids are looking up at you going, ‘But he lies,’” Daniels said, noting that people, particularly in the Midwest, might have had enough of Trump and are ready to move on.
“If the big gamble is to go all the way to November 2020, which I agree, and lose — it’s the end of democracy,” Daniels added.
[Read more: Robert De Niro says fitting tribute to Trump would be his ‘impeachment and imprisonment’]
