Jeff Daniels Slams Donald Trump Over His Recent Viral AI Video: ‘Do We Really Have to Treat People Like That?’

Actor Jeff Daniels has strongly criticized President Donald Trump for posting a bizarre AI-generated video that quickly went viral.

In an interview with MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace on October 21, Daniels called out the video, which showed Trump wearing a crown while flying a plane and dropping brown liquid on protesters below.

“Do we really have to treat people like that?” Daniels asked, clearly disturbed by the video. The AI-generated clip was shared by Trump on Truth Social on October 18. It depicted the 79-year-old Trump dropping excrement on people taking part in the No Kings Day protests, a demonstration that saw over seven million Americans voice their opposition to Trump’s administration, according to CNN.

Daniels continued, explaining how troubling he found the video. “The meme that [Trump] had where he was flying with the crown and spewing excrement all over the people down below… Would [Abraham] Lincoln have done that?” Daniels questioned.

Actor Jeff Daniels on Donald Trump: “Do we really have to treat people like that? The meme where he’s flying with the crown and spewing excrement all over the people. Would Lincoln have done that? I think people in the midwest where I am, we value our decency and our civility” pic.twitter.com/HRM0DrGvRe

— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) October 22, 2025

He went on to agree with Wallace’s response, pointing out that past presidents like Nixon, Reagan, and the Bushes would never have engaged in something like that.

Daniels, who hails from the Midwest, made it clear that such behavior doesn’t sit well with people from that region. “I think people in the Midwest, where I am… we value our decency and our civility,” Daniels said.

He added that Midwesterners have a different perspective from those living on the coasts, and while Trump’s promises on the economy may have won over many, “if [Trump] doesn’t deliver on the economy like he promised, that stuff will start to add up. And they’ll get tired of it, and they’ll vote for change.”

This isn’t the first time Daniels has publicly criticized Trump. Back in 2019, the actor warned that a second term for Trump would signal the “end of democracy” while discussing his role as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway.

Reflecting on Trump’s rallies, Daniels said, “A mob is a place where people go to take a break from their conscience. That’s what I see when I look at Donald Trump’s rallies, that’s when I see the lies he’s spewing at these people, and people going, ‘I gotta believe in something.’” He added that race remains a key factor in the political landscape and how people align themselves with Trump.

Daniels’ remarks show his continued frustration with Trump’s behavior and leadership, which he believes does not align with the values of decency and civility he holds dear. As the political climate in the U.S. continues to shift, it remains to be seen how this latest round of criticism will influence public opinion.

What do you think about Jeff Daniels’ take on Trump’s actions and the video? Share your thoughts in the comments below.