Hollywood star John Cusack has ignited a storm on social media by criticizing former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley after controversial photos showed her writing a provocative message on Israeli artillery shells amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The U.S. remains divided over its response to the latest Israel-Hamas war, triggered by a surprise attack from the Palestinian militant group on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. Israel retaliated with its most intense airstrikes on Gaza to date, leading to over 36,000 Palestinian casualties, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. These figures have sparked global calls for a ceasefire and numerous protests across American universities.
On Monday, Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Trump, visited Israel, meeting survivors of the Hamas attack. Haley’s tour included a visit to Israel’s northern border with Israeli Knesset member Danny Danon, who shared photos of Haley signing artillery shells with the message, “Finish Them!” and “America [loves] Israel.”
“This is what my friend, the former ambassador, Nikki Haley wrote today about a shell during a visit to an artillery post on the northern border,” Danon posted in Hebrew, according to Google Translate.
Cusack, known for his outspoken support of Palestinians and critique of Israeli actions, took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce Haley’s actions. His post rapidly gained traction, amassing over 3 million views. “Anyone who signs a f****** bomb should be put in a mental institution—For the criminally insane,” Cusack declared.
Cusack didn’t stop there, continuing his tirade with a series of posts criticizing Haley. “Burning children alive – Finish them – she hissed,” he wrote. Responding to another user’s critique of Haley’s actions, Cusack added, “Besides its shocking inhumanity, it was revolting in some weird gaslighting uncanny way. It was [multi] dimensions of disgusting.”
In a blistering reaction to a photo of Haley, Cusack wrote: “She needs a nice list of her true qualities. She who writes ‘finish them’ with a big [heart emoji] like a psychotic teenage serial killer.” He further labeled her a “ghoul—groveling, spineless, heartless, vicious, brutal, malicious, barbarous, brutal, callous, cruel, despotic, inhuman, sadistic, savage piece of s***.”
Haley has been vocal about the need for the U.S. to continue its military aid to Israel. During her visit, she emphasized that the U.S. “needs to do whatever Israel needs and stop telling them how to fight this war,” stressing the potential for similar attacks on American soil if appropriate measures aren’t taken.
“Israel did not start this war—Hamas did,” she stated. “Families in southern Israel woke on October 7, as 3,000 Hamas fighters brutalized Israelis. Thousands of Palestinian civilians joined in the destruction, looting, and violence.” She described the atrocities committed on that day and reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself.
In a significant legal development, the International Criminal Court has announced it is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This marks the first time the ICC has targeted a leader of a U.S. ally, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
Stay tuned as this story unfolds and more reactions emerge from across the globe.
10 Interesting Facts About the Celebrities:
- John Cusack starred in the iconic 1989 romantic comedy “Say Anything,” cementing his status as a leading man.
- Nikki Haley was the first female governor of South Carolina, serving from 2011 to 2017.
- Cusack is also an accomplished writer, having co-authored several political books, including “Things That Can and Cannot Be Said.”
- Haley was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018 under President Donald Trump.
- John Cusack is known for his activism and has been vocal about various political issues, including opposition to the Iraq War.
- Nikki Haley’s parents are Indian immigrants, making her one of the first Indian-American women to serve in a high-profile U.S. government position.
- Cusack has a black belt in kickboxing, which he trained for while preparing for his role in “Grosse Pointe Blank.”
- Haley’s birth name is Nimrata Randhawa, and she chose to go by Nikki, a nickname meaning “little one” in Punjabi.
- John Cusack has appeared in over 70 films, spanning multiple genres from romantic comedies to thrillers.
- Haley authored a memoir titled “With All Due Respect: Defending America with Grit and Grace,” which details her experiences in politics and diplomacy.
John Cusack’s critique was certainly bold and unexpected. It’s interesting to see celebrities voicing their political opinions so openly. This article captures the essence of the viral moment perfectly.