TubiTV Just Hit 200 Million Users – Here’s Why
10 Perfect-Score Shows Buried on Prime Video Right Now
At the Venice Film Festival on Aug. 29, 2025, Pulitzer-winning journalist Seymour Hersh delivered a blunt warning that jolted a press room and refocused festival coverage. Speaking at the premiere of Cover-Up, Hersh said the U.S. faces an “existential crisis” and argued bluntly that the president “wants to not have another election.” The line has become the weekend’s hottest soundbite, amplifying preexisting protests and an open letter about Gaza — and forcing filmmakers, jurors and festival organisers into a charged conversation about politics and cinema.
What to remember fast about Hersh’s Venice remark and its fallout
Quick facts:
- Seymour Hersh spoke at the Venice premiere of Cover-Up on Aug. 29, 2025.
- Hersh said the president “wants to not have another election,” a direct quote.
- The comment landed amid pro‑Palestine protests and an open filmmakers’ letter.
- Venice runs Aug. 27–Sept. 6, 2025, intensifying festival scrutiny.
Why Hersh’s exact quote became the festival’s viral flashpoint in 2025
Hersh’s line — delivered during a Cover-Up press session — crystallized anxieties about U.S. politics on an international stage. He said: “My belief is that’s his absolute sole mission. He wants to not have another election, because under the Constitution he cannot…. That’s what he’s going to be doing for the next three years.” The remark was picked up instantly by reporters and social feeds, reframing coverage of a political documentary into a broader conversation about democratic norms. Festival organizers and filmmakers were left to balance artistic programming with an unexpected political moment.
What reactions reveal: 3 reasons the quote divided audiences and critics
The $3.99 Streaming Service With 500+ Oscar Winners Nobody Knows About
Cancel These 3 Subscriptions Before November 1st – Here’s Why
Reactions split along three predictable lines: journalists and some filmmakers framed Hersh’s remarks as urgent warning; guest jurors sought neutrality to protect festival focus; and protesters used the moment to amplify unrelated grievances (notably Gaza). Festival leaders have to weigh statements from auteurs and guests against security, press access and programming — all while global outlets race to interpret the line’s meaning beyond the Lido photocall.
4 key numbers that show how Venice turned political in late Aug 2025
| KPI | Value + Unit | Scope/Date | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venice festival dates | Aug 27–Sept 6, 2025 | Venice Film Festival, 2025 | Major festival running amid protests |
| Cover-Up premiere date | Aug 29, 2025 | Venice premiere | Press session produced the quoted remark |
| THR article publishing the quote | Aug 29, 2025 | The Hollywood Reporter | Immediate national pickup of Hersh’s quote |
| Related major reports found quickly | 3 authoritative outlets | Aug 23–30, 2025 | Spike in politically focused festival coverage |
Summary: Hersh’s quote hit during Venice’s Aug 27–Sept 6 window, triggering intense festival coverage.
Who Hersh is and why this specific quote carries weight in 2025
Seymour Hersh is a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist whose career includes scoops on My Lai and other major exposes. His appearance in Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’s film Cover-Up — and his blunt assessment that a sitting president “wants to not have another election” — carry outsized weight because of his investigative standing. Festival organizers labeled the film a probe of institutional impunity; Hersh’s political framing turned an auteur screening into a flashpoint about democracy and media responsibility.
Hersh’s Venice remark has already reshaped headlines and intensified existing protests at the festival, forcing a weekend where cinema and geopolitics collided. Expect continued debate as articles, jurors and filmmakers respond — and as Venice navigates the fallout through Sept. 6.
Sources
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/seymour-hersh-venice-film-festival-donald-trump-film-quotes-1236356738/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/arts/gaza-protest-venice-film-festival.html
- https://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/gaza-protest-palestine-venice-film-festival-1236499404/
Similar posts:
- “I Feel A Little Bit Unprepared” Sparks 2025 Backlash at Venice: Here’s Why
- “I would be surprised” sparks festival showdown — What Aug 30 at Venice means next
- Artists Demand Answers After Sequoia-Linked $100M Investment — What Comes Next
- Venice Premiere Sep 3, 2025 Sees 21–23 Minute Ovation And Political Chants
- Inside The Quote: How Jude Law’s 2025 Venice Comments Could Reset Biopic Debate
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.
Anyone who watches Trump had known for quite a while that Trump doesn’t want another election. He said when he was president the first time that he wanted to be president for life.