Mark Ruffalo calls Trump 'worst human being in the world' as celebs turn Golden Globes red carpet into protest
Mark Ruffalo wears a pin reading "Be Good", in tribute to Renee Good, who was fatally shot by a US Immigration and ICE agent in Minneapolis, as he attends the 2026 Golden Globe Awards.
Image: Michael Tran / AFP
The Golden Globes are often remembered for designer gowns and gold-plated trophies, but the 2026 ceremony proved that the red carpet can be a powerful megaphone.
It is a space where the glitz of Hollywood meets the reality of the world outside, and this year, several celebrities decided that being silent was no longer an option.
For many, the night was less about the trophies and more about creating awareness for a country they feel is at a critical crossroads.
Mark Ruffalo, who was nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series, became the focal point of this political wave.
While he appeared on the carpet as a nominee, his mind was on Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother who was recently killed by a federal ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Ruffalo wore a white pin with black lettering that read "BE GOOD" to honour her memory, but his verbal comments were even more striking.
Speaking with a sense of urgency, he referred to Donald Trump with uncharacteristic bluntness. "He's telling the world that international law doesn't matter to him," Ruffalo said, referencing recent military actions in Venezuela.
Ruffalo’s frustration boiled over as he addressed the President’s character directly. "We have a vice president who is lying about what's happening," he told reporters, before turning his attention to Trump.
"The only thing that matters to him is his own morality, but the guy is a convicted felon, a convicted rapist. He's a paedophile. He's the worst human being in the world."
He continued by expressing the fear he feels for the nation, stating, "If we're relying on this guy's morality for the most powerful country in the world, then we're all in a lot of trouble. This is for Renee. This is for the people in the United States who are terrorised and scared today. I know I'm one of them. I love this country, and what I'm seeing here happening is not America."
When asked why he felt the need to speak out during a celebration, he was honest about his inability to play the Hollywood game. "I want to be here to celebrate, but also, this is not normal anymore. I don't know how I could be quiet. It's hard to BS right now."
Jean Smart, a winner that night for "Hacks," took a personal approach. On the red carpet, she told Entertainment Tonight that she was attending "not as an actress, but as a citizen and a mom," adding that she felt the country was at a "turning point."
When she later took the stage to accept her third Golden Globe for "Hacks," she chose her words carefully but pointedly. "I think everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing to do is," she told the audience, "so let’s do the right thing."
In a more silent protest, other stars joined the #BeGood and #ICEOUT campaign, turning their black tie attire into a statement against ICE enforcement.
Ariana Grande was among the most visible participants, sporting a protest pin following a viral Instagram post where she challenged the idea that life had improved for Trump’s supporters, questioning if their lives were better given the "widespread suffering" of marginalised groups.
Other stars like Natasha Lyonne, Stephen Graham, and the cast of "The Studio" were seen with the pins.