Cher has startled attendees at a world youth summit in Ottawa delivering a scathing and sometimes profane denunciation of the Republican candidate Donald Trump, saying she feels “traumatized” by him and it would be millennials who would be most harmed if he is elected.
“I’m trying to parse my words…I’m not good at it, he’s an asshole,” the actress and singer said while in discussion on the main stage at the four-day One Young World Summit, where speakers this week also included Sir Bob Geldof and former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.
“What he’s awakened in my country is bigotry and distrust and a certain kind of supremacy in certain groups,” Cher, who started her career in the 1960s as one half of Sonny and Cher, declared, adding that should he win the repercussions would be felt around the world.
“What they need to know is that this election will change America and have consequences for the world for 40 years and the people who will suffer the most are millennials,” she said. “Look, it’s not going to hurt me, I’m 70, it’s not going to do anything to me. It’s going to do stuff to young people and that really scares me and it bothers me.”
“He’s so terrific at lying,” she offered. “I’ve never seen anyone so good, it’s amazing. I could go on and on, on this subject forever because I’m so traumatized by him. I am truly traumatized by him.”
She said that Ms Clinton is in a close fight with him in part because millennials are not embracing her. “They’re not drawn to Hillary; they don’t trust her, they feel that her sins are really enormous,” she said, adding that they need to look more closely and not take their news in soundbites. “They’re just hearing that and that and that.”
“I know a different side of her, I know the really warm side of her,” she said.
Sometimes called the ‘Goddess of Pop’, Cher was invited to the annual summit, which brings promising young leaders from around the world to share experiences and visions, as one of its keynote speakers. Also given the microphone was Canadian Prime Minster, Justin Trudeau.
“I do not think you are the leaders of tomorrow - I know you are already leaders today,” Mr Trudeau, 44, told participants. “Your generation is politically engaged, educated, innovative, inclusive and progressive. You need to harness that potential to make the world a better place and I know that every person here tonight is committed to doing just that in one way or another.”
Cher warned that a Trump presidency would roll back progress in the US on social policies ranging from abortion to gay rights.
“The people, he will bring with him will put an end to any hope that women have of getting the rights we had in Roe vs Wade. I believe they will put an end to any gay marriage. They will put an end to gay adoption. They will put an end to so many services that we do for the old, the young, the starving.”
The Telegraph added:
The US presidential election will "change America" and have "consequences for the world for 40 years", Cher has said.
The musician labelled Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump "dangerous" and "terrific at lying", while also suggesting younger generations struggle to trust Democrat Hillary Clinton.
"I don't know how he's a candidate, he is so dangerous, and what he brings to my country, what he's awakened in my country, is bigotry and distrust and a certain kind of supremacy in certain groups, and he lies.
"He's amazing, he tells something and then you go back and see what he's said and it seems like the truth both times, he's so terrific at lying. I've never seen anyone so good, it's amazing. I could go on and on on this subject forever because I'm so traumatised by him. I am truly traumatised by him."
Cher, speaking at the One Young World Summit in Ottawa, Canada, did not reserve her criticism just for Mr Trump.
"It's not easy, because especially millennials - they're not drawn to Hillary; they don't trust her, they feel that her sins are really enormous," she said.
"If you delve into some of the things she's being accused of - she's screwed up and that's for sure.
"But I've known her for a long time and I think that she will do her best. And she's a politician but she will do her best. If you look at her from the beginning of her life till now, she's worked hard for people."
The Oscar-winning actress, 70, was launching a campaign to free animals in captivity, but could not help lending her thoughts on the upcoming election.
She added: "What they need to know is that this election will change America and have consequences for the world for 40 years and the people who will suffer the most are millennials.
"And they will suffer because the people he will bring with him will put an end to any hope that women have of getting the rights we had in Roe v Wade. I believe they will put an end to any gay marriage. They will put an end to gay adoption. They will put an end to so many services that we do for the old, the young, the starving.
"They're the GOP (Republican Party). They're not the government of the people. And how he's able to align himself as one of the people is just, it's amazing, he really deserves some sort of reward, it's just amazing.
"I would say that it has such far-reaching consequences and - look, it's not going to hurt me, I'm 70, it's not going to do anything to me - it's going to do stuff to young people and that really scares me and it bothers me."
God help the USA and the world if trump gets in
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