Donald Trump had an unusual reaction upon hearing the news of Robert Redford’s passing.
On Tuesday, September 16, the world of cinema bid farewell to one of its legendary figures.
Robert Redford, celebrated for his roles in movies from the 1960s and 1970s, became a household name through films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men.
Throughout his illustrious career, the 89-year-old actor collected numerous awards, including an Oscar for directing Ordinary People, a BAFTA, and five Golden Globes. Time Magazine also recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014.
Sadly, his publicist announced that the actor had died at his home in Utah, surrounded by his family.
President Trump has now shared his thoughts on the matter, cautiously choosing his words in light of Redford’s previous harsh critiques of his administration.
Outside of his achievements in film, Redford was noted for his activism and strong support for the Democratic Party.
He was a vocal critic of Trump, arguing in various writings that the Republican leader posed a ‘dictator-like attack’ on the nation, among other criticisms.
When questioned about the actor’s death as he was leaving the White House for a UK state visit, Trump remarked: “Robert Redford was great; he had a series of years where there was nobody better.”
Although Trump avoided addressing Redford’s critical views of him, he commented on the manner of his passing, saying: “That’s a good way to go, I guess.”
He declined to specify his favorite Redford film, choosing instead to say: “Well, you have a lot of them … I’d say he made seven or eight great movies, they were really great. There was a period of time when he was the hottest.
“I thought he was great.”
This statement comes despite Redford’s previous description of Trump as someone who ‘degrades everything he touches’ in a 2019 op-ed for The Washington Post.
Redford elaborated: “It is painfully clear we have a president who degrades everything he touches, a person who does not understand (or care?) that his duty is to defend our democracy.”
In another 2019 op-ed for NBC News, he reiterated the dictator comment and argued that the United States had ‘lost its place as a world leader’ during Trump’s presidency, as he stated in a 2020 piece for CNN.
Cindi Berger, chief executive of the public relations firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, released a statement saying: “Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah ― the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.”
The Sundance area was the inspiration behind his creation of the Sundance Film Festival, which has been held annually in Utah for over thirty years.
“He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy,” Berger concluded.