Sometimes it’s difficult to really understand where people are coming from because they go about making negative comments about the beliefs and actions of others without ever logically and consistently backing them up. Richard Gere has been a Buddhist for many years and is a longtime friend of the Dalai Lama. Beyond that, politically he is a committed Democrat. In many ways those two things are not very compatible, though he obviously doesn’t see it that way. Gere, like many others, holds contradictory worldview beliefs and doesn’t even realize it.
Much of the way he expresses his beliefs comes out in anti-Trump rhetoric. In a recent interview with Variety Magazine, Gere made a number of political statements that illustrate this point. (You can read about this at https://www.foxnews.com/media/richard-gere-says-dalai-lamas-words-couldnt-change-trump-what-hes-done-astonishing and https://variety.com/2025/film/news/richard-gere-dalai-lama-documentary-20-year-oscar-ban-trump-1236597598/)
Here are some of the things he said in the interview.
- Speaking about the possibility of Trump being influenced by the Dalai Lama, he said, “I don’t know that it would touch him, I would hope that it would. I would pray that it would. But boy, I don’t know how you explain what he has done to this country, what it feels like to be an American now, 10 or 11 months in. It’s just astonishing. It’s beyond what anyone could ever imagine.”
- “If we want a world a certain way, then we have to elect leaders who have a similar vision to us and will lead us towards this higher level of possibility — who we are as individuals and how we can create a world, a society where people can live with each other rather than this battlefield every day, all day long, with the craziness. Especially, as I say, coming from this very crude mentality that is now in our leadership.”
- "We have a president who’s completely — he’s not only crazy. He’s a dark, dark presence. And it’s happened so quickly."
- “Authoritarianism takes us all over. We have to be vigilant. We have to be alert. We have to be energetic. We have to be brave. We have to be courageous. And everyone who’s watching this – in the Spanish-speaking world and elsewhere – we have to be willing to stand up, tell the truth, be honest. And there’s a place in all of our lives for basic kindness, for basic love and understanding."
- Then, in September, Gere said that he (Trump) "almost destroyed our country in just six months.”
Now Gere is certainly entitled to his personal beliefs and opinions, but in this case he is making political statements supposedly based on his religious beliefs that are neither spiritually nor morally consistent. Many people who claim to be Buddhists engage in certain Buddhist practices (like meditation), but do not live out the implications of those beliefs in their daily lives.
Buddhism, as a belief system, is totally pacifistic – not just concerning war, but also including individual inner peace, societal conflict resolution, and even active non-violent resistance. Its pacifism emerges from its core principle of non-violence. Its first precept is to not kill or harm living beings. That is ostensibly driven by compassion, and the belief that violence stems from greed, hatred, and delusion (Buddhism’s "Three Poisons"). It emphasizes spiritual insight to guide skillful, compassionate action over anger.
Gere is also known for his liberal political views and has a long history of political activism. Now it would be a lot easier to take his criticisms seriously if he was consistent across the board. But he is not. While he may think his hatred for Trump is based on his Buddhist beliefs, they are actually based somewhere else. Somehow, his political beliefs lie outside of Buddhist doctrine.
Essentially, Gere seems to use his Buddhist belief in “non-violence” as a cover for promoting a left-wing political agenda. For instance, while advocating for an end to violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza, he generically criticized all who used violent means while only being critical, in a specific sense, of the U.S. and Israel. If he was consistent, he would be equally critical of the other side. And when it comes to political advocacy, he has criticized Republican politicians by name, while only generically condemning violence when Democrats are in power. Additionally, he has even contributed to the political campaigns of Democrats who act in ways that are contrary to his Buddhist beliefs.
I am certainly one who believes in the biblical idea of freedom of conscience – even for those whose beliefs I consider to be wrong. Everyone answers to God for their beliefs, not to me. That said, as Christians, we are called to share the truth of Christ with those who don’t know Him, and equip the saints to be able to distinguish between what is true and what is false.
Gere’s beliefs are not only false theologically, but in so many ways his politics actually trump his claimed religious beliefs. Sadly, there are many Christians who fall into the same trap. It is critical to learn how to distinguish what is true from what is false, and learn to consistently apply the truth in every part of life. It is only by having those skills that Christians are able to not only have total confidence in their own faith, but also the ability to share the truth with those who don’t know Christ.
Freddy Davis is the president of MarketFaith Ministries. He is the author of numerous books entitled The Truth Mirage, Rules for Christians Radicals, Liberalism vs. Conservatism, and his latest book Shattering the Truth Mirage and has a background as an international missionary, pastor, radio host, worldview trainer, and entrepreneur. Freddy is a graduate of Florida State University with a BS in Communication, and holds MDiv and DMin degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a popular speaker, particularly on the topic of worldview and its practical implications for the Christian life. He lives in Tallahassee, FL, with his wife Deborah.
You may also contact Freddy at Leadership Speakers Bureau to schedule him for speaking or leadership engagements.
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