Sir Michael Palin didn’t hold back in his critique of US President Donald Trump during his recent appearance at the Destinations and Travel Show in London. The discussion came shortly after the release of his travel series Michael Palin in Venezuela, in which the actor explored the country’s striking contrasts from its breathtaking landscapes to the severe economic crisis. He also documented these experiences in a book, reflecting on the places he visited, the people he met, and the stories he encountered along the way.
During the event, Palin, 82, was asked about Trump’s recent attention on Venezuela. Earlier this year, Trump had controversially claimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was responsible for the mass migration of Venezuelans to the US. He even went as far as circulating a fake Wikipedia page naming himself “Acting President of Venezuela.” Reacting to this, Palin delivered a cutting remark:
"Well, he rang me up, as he does. I just said, Donald, I’ve done it. You really don’t need to do it. Donald, you can read the book about it."
When asked if Trump requested a signed copy, Palin didn’t hold back: "I don’t think he reads a lot."
Reflecting on his travels, Palin emphasized the stark economic disparities in Venezuela. Millions have left the country, meaning those who remain are often either relatively wealthy or extremely poor.
"I think we didn’t emphasise how poor a lot of it is. I saw a recent statistic which said 80% of the people in Venezuela live in poverty. I find that hard to believe. It’s a country of 28 million, and eight million have left in the last ten years. So the people who are still there either have some money invested in the country or Maduro’s government or they are very poor and can’t leave."
Palin also discussed the challenge of capturing both the country’s beauty and its hardships on film, describing it as a delicate balance: "It’s hard to do a programme where you’re showing how beautiful a country is as well as the poverty. It’s intrusive."
He highlighted Venezuela’s past wealth, particularly in Caracas during the 1970s and 80s, when the country enjoyed robust infrastructure and economic prosperity fueled by oil exports.
"But the western part of Venezuela had a lot of very poor people. In Caracas itself, there was an amazing road system, all built in the 70s and 80s when Venezuela was a very rich country as rich as Spain because oil was being sold and distributed by the Americans. When Chávez came in and turned the country to the left, he got rid of all the people who ran the oil business."
Palin’s reflections paint a vivid picture of a country shaped by both natural splendor and political upheaval, while his playful jabs at Trump show that even at 82, his wit is sharp as ever. For more on Trump’s recent antics and reactions around the globe, see this collection.
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