Leonardo DiCaprio speaks out against the Trump administration’s skepticism of climate change: "We cannot afford, at this critical moment in time, to have leaders in office that do not believe in the modern science of climate change.”

Leonardo DiCaprio speaks out on climate change

Leonardo DiCaprio, the Oscar-winning actor and environmental advocate, has made clear his strong disapproval of the Donald Trump administration’s skepticism toward climate change. His remarks frame the issue not just as policy, but as a moral and scientific imperative, and call into question the legitimacy of public leaders who reject what he refers to as “modern science.”

What he said

DiCaprio has repeatedly asserted that leaders who dismiss climate science should not hold public office. In a 2016 address at the The White House ahead of the release of his documentary Before the Flood, he said:

“If you don’t believe in climate change, you don’t believe in facts, and science, and empirical truths.” (The Guardian)
And further:
“We cannot afford, at this critical moment in time, to have leaders in office that do not believe in the modern science of climate change.” (The Guardian)

In 2017, he revisited the topic at the Yale University Climate Conference, recalling his meeting with then President-elect Trump and criticizing the administration’s stance. DiCaprio said that although he and others had presented a comprehensive plan addressing climate change and green jobs, the lack of action was “risk[ing] the entire future of this entire generation.” (TIME)

Why he is speaking out

DiCaprio’s activism around climate change is long-standing. Some key points:

He produced Before the Flood, a documentary that explores global warming impacts and the consequences of denial. (Wikipedia)
He has used his platform to press for clean energy, green jobs and stronger environmental protections. (Grazia)
He takes the view that the climate crisis is not a distant future threat, but an urgent issue that demands political and societal leadership now.

Given that framing, his critique of the Trump administration is especially pointed: the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the removal or weakening of environmental regulations, and the embrace of fossil-fuel interests are seen by him as symptomatic of a deeper issue: the rejection of scientific evidence. For example, he described the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord as “careless” and as a moment when “the future livability of our planet was threatened.” (Vanity Fair)

Implications of his message

DiCaprio’s stance underscores an intersection of celebrity, science advocacy and politics: by speaking out, he mobilizes attention beyond academic or policy circles, into popular culture.
His message suggests a normative claim: that leadership should be based on recognition of empirical fact and science, and that ignoring those undermines not only policy credibility but the legitimacy of governance.
As climate change becomes more visible in its impacts (sea-level rise, extreme weather events, ecosystem disruptions), his advocacy anticipates a shift in public expectations: political leaders will increasingly be judged by their responses — or failures to respond — to the crisis.

Critiques and counter-perspectives

While many applaud DiCaprio’s activism, some critiques are worth noting:

Some argue that celebrity advocacy can oversimplify complex policy issues or substitute for detailed political strategy.
Others note that while he calls for action, the scale of global/institutional change needed goes beyond what any individual or film can achieve alone.
There is also a political dimension: when such criticisms are framed strongly against a particular administration or party, they may reinforce polarization rather than enable cross-partisan cooperation.

Conclusion

Leonardo DiCaprio’s comments represent more than a typical celebrity endorsement of climate-action. They articulate a clear challenge to political legitimacy: if a leader rejects the science of climate change at a moment when the evidence of human-driven global warming is strong and the stakes high, then that leader is, in his view, unsuited to hold office. As the climate crisis accelerates, the relevance of his message may become more acute — not just for environmentalists but for any citizen evaluating the priorities and competence of political leadership.

If you like, I can pull together a timeline of DiCaprio’s climate-activism statements and map them to the Trump administration’s environmental policy changes. Would you like that?