Jamie Lee Curtis Slams Trump for 'Erasing' Diversity in Language

Actress accuses former president of trying to remove diversity-related terms from public discourse

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:33pm

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Actress Jamie Lee Curtis criticized former President Donald Trump for allegedly trying to "erase" the language of diversity from public discourse, calling it an "abomination" during a speech at the South by Southwest festival. Curtis praised Hollywood for supporting diverse films and linked the issue to the U.S. Constitution, claiming it was "designed to grow and flow as people grew and flowed."

Why it matters

Curtis' comments reflect the ongoing debate over diversity, inclusion, and representation in media and politics. As a prominent Hollywood figure, her remarks highlight the tensions between some celebrities' progressive views and the more conservative positions of the former president and his supporters.

The details

During her remarks at SXSW, Curtis noted that she is "happy more women are getting appreciation" and that "more people of color are getting appreciation. More genders are being appreciated." However, she accused Trump of trying to "erase" the language of diversity, which she called "an abomination." Curtis also praised Hollywood for sponsoring "diverse" horror films and claimed the industry supports diversity "like our Constitution should."

  • Curtis made the comments during a speech at the South by Southwest festival on March 19, 2026.

The players

Jamie Lee Curtis

An American actress known for her roles in the Halloween horror film franchise and other movies. She is a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his policies.

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who served from 2017 to 2021. Curtis accused him of trying to "erase" the language of diversity from public discourse.

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What they’re saying

“More people of color are getting appreciation. More genders are being appreciated. Diversity, inclusivity, the words that Donald Trump is trying to erase from our language, which is an abomination. It's fantastic.”

— Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress

“Nobody in their right mind cares what out-of-touch woke celebrities in Hollywood say or think.”

— Davis Ingle, White House spokesperson

The takeaway

Curtis' comments highlight the ongoing tensions between Hollywood's progressive views on diversity and inclusion and the more conservative positions of the former president and his supporters. The debate over the role of diversity in public discourse continues to be a divisive issue in American politics.