Meryl Streep’s Powerful 2017 Golden Globes Speech Takes Aim at Donald Trump: A Defining Moment in Hollywood Activism

In a memorable incident, Donald Trump appeared to ridicule New York Times journalist Serge Kovaleski, who has arthrogryposis, during a 2015 rally. Trump animatedly waved his hands, claiming it was an impression of Kovaleski’s reaction to being accused of writing something inaccurate years earlier. Without directly naming Trump, Meryl Streep expressed her dismay over the incident, highlighting the disheartening nature of such behavior from someone with significant influence. She noted the ripple effect this kind of cruelty can have.

“It trickles down into everyone’s lives because it essentially gives others permission to act similarly,” Streep remarked. She further emphasized, “When those in power use their position to intimidate, everyone suffers.” Her comments were met with applause, though predictably, not everyone agreed. It wasn’t hard to guess who would take offense at her words.

In a move that surprised no one, Donald Trump responded to Meryl Streep’s remarks on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He labeled her as “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood” and claimed she attacked him during the Golden Globes. Trump further criticized Streep as a “Hillary flunky who lost big.” This statement came despite the fact that Streep had been receiving an award for her “Outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment” at the time. It seems Trump’s reaction was more about his discomfort with Streep’s critique than anything else.

Surprising absolutely no one, when Donald Trump caught wind of Meryl Streep’s comments, he jumped on X, formerly known as Twitter, to respond with what the president probably believed was a real zinger. “Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn’t know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes,” Trump began. He went on to decry the esteemed actor as a “Hillary flunky who lost big.” TBD what he meant by that, since Streep had made her speech while literally collecting an award for: “Outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” We’ll chalk it up to Trump not being able to stand Streep calling him out. 

The controversial leader wasn’t the only one to react negatively to her calls for people to tap into empathy rather than nastiness, though. His former senior counselor Kellyanne Conway also criticized Streep’s speech, complaining on Fox News that she should have used the opportunity to call for people to support the new president instead, whether or not they liked him personally. As for Streep herself, she ultimately fired back at Trump’s diss, and once again, the “Devil Wears Prada” star did it without hurling any insults. 

Far from it, while picking up another award — this time the Human Rights Campaign‘s National Ally for Equality Award — she quipped, “I am the most overrated and most […] overdecorated, and currently, currently, I am the most over-berated actress […] of my generation. But that’s why you invited me here, right?” Streep also acknowledged that it was scary to call out those in power, particularly because of the threat of retaliation, but concluded that she had to, for the sake of her own convictions. Talk about a classy clapback.