Damian Lewis has appeared to suggest Donald Trump is like Henry VIII when it comes to reforming institutions.
The British actor said the Tudor king became “ever more paranoid, worried, disillusioned by the people around him”.
King Henry VIII’s reformation of parliament in 1529, which gave him legislative power, meant “every whim of his, every impulse, whatever it was” was “legitimised through the legislative power of parliament”, he said.
The Wolf Hall star said this meant he could “essentially do what he wanted to do”.
He said: “I don’t know if that reminds you of anyone currently out there in the political forum.
“But we’ve seen what’s happened to the Supreme Court in America.”
Although he didn’t specifically name the president-elect, experts say Trump has helped shape the Supreme Court by putting three of his appointees in it.
One critic said: “So sick of overrated celebrities pretending they know anything about politics but especially American politics.”
Trump has promised to completely remake the US government and wield new power as president.
The orange manbaby is poised to build on his legacy of reshaping the federal judiciary with his judicial nominees set to be even more right-wing.
They would more likely cast a sceptical eye on environmental, financial and other regulations and to uphold Trump’s agenda in the face of legal challenges.
Trump’s first term saw 234 judicial appointments, including three Supreme Court justices who were instrumental in overturning abortion rights.
John Collins, a professor at George Washington University Law School, said: “Trump remade the federal judiciary in his first term.
“Now he has the opportunity to cement that vision for an entire generation.”
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, which premiered on BBC One tonight (November 11), sees Damian play King Henry VIII.
The six-part miniseries has been adapted from author Hilary Mantel’s book of the same name and covers the last four years of the king’s life.
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