Angelina Jolie defends free speech, says she does not recognize the United States

Angelina Jolie defended free speech on the international stage, saying she does not recognize the United States anymore as she promotes her new film Couture at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain. Speaking to reporters, Jolie argued that anything that divides or limits personal expression and freedoms is dangerous, a remark issued amid ongoing political turmoil in the United States. "Anything, anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms, I think, is very dangerous," she said, adding that these are "such serious times" in which she must be careful not to speak casually in public. "I don’t, at this time, recognize my country," the Oscar winner said, emphasizing her worldwide outlook.

During a red-carpet photocall for Couture, Jolie wore a black plunging gown and highlighted her international life and global family. "I’ve always lived internationally. My family is international. My life, my world view, is equal [and] united," she said, adding that she would remain thoughtful in a press conference but that the moment calls for seriousness.

The remarks quickly drew a spectrum of reactions online, with supporters arguing that public voices should challenge political norms, and critics accusing the star of anti-American sentiment. One X user wrote: "I’m so glad she’s not a part of this country since she lives internationally away from it." Another disagreed: "She’s absolutely correct." A third said: "Nobody of intelligence cares what she thinks or feels. She’s shown her true self." Jolie’s comments also reignited discussion about her long history of political engagement and her stance on refugee issues.

The actress has long been outspoken on international and humanitarian matters. Between 2012 and 2022 she served as a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and had worked with the agency since 2001. In 2018, she hinted at a move into politics, saying she would "always go where I am needed," though she later tempered that sentiment, telling reporters that she was unsure if she would pursue elected office. She also underscored that her UN work and her ability to engage with governments allow her to get things done without holding a formal title. "I’m also able to work with governments," Jolie said, noting that she sits in a space that enables her to accomplish a lot without a title and without it being about herself or her policies.

Jolie also highlighted her capacity to work with governments and institutions from a position outside official office, noting that she sits in a space that enables impact without pursuing a political role. She pointed to her advocacy on refugees and her broader international work as evidence that she can contribute meaningfully in complex policymaking environments while maintaining independence from any single government.

Her record of public engagement includes a White House visit in September 2021 to support reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Two years later, she joined then-President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner honoring the president of South Korea. In public remarks and op-eds over the years, Jolie has criticized certain policies she views as antithetical to humanitarian values, including during Donald Trump’s first term, when she spoke out against policies that restricted refugee admissions. "We must never allow our values to become the collateral damage of a search for greater security. Shutting our door to refugees or discriminating among them is not our way, and does not make us safer," she wrote in a New York Times op-ed.

Jolie’s comments about the United States come as public discourse over free expression has intensified in media and online forums. The actress’s father, Jon Voight, has been a longtime backer of Donald Trump, and public comments from family members have long been part of the broader Hollywood-political conversation surrounding Jolie’s own positions. Some observers cautioned that a prominent actor’s remarks should be weighed in the broader context of a history of humanitarian advocacy, while others argued that public figures have a right to express political opinions regardless of personal ties to any administration. Jolie has often separated her humanitarian work from domestic political alignments, a distinction she reiterated during the Couture press circuit.