Penn was in Ukraine filming a documentary about the Vice President, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the growing tension on the border with Russia when Russia invaded Ukraine in February. As things began to escalate, Penn had to leave the country. He has since returned to Ukraine and also spent time in neighboring Poland for both the documentary and the humanitarian effort through the CORE aid organization he co-founded.
Tonight, Penn appeared in person on Sean Hannity’s Fox News’ Hannity program. Referring to the twin opposing political views, Hannity began by mentioning how the two first came into contact.
“I made your first phone call,” Haniti said. “Remember what you told me the first time?”
“I said, ‘I do not trust you,’” Penn replied. “But we have to move on with life. We all talk about how divisive things are, how divided things are here. When you enter a country of incredible unity, you realize what we have all lost. I do not think I have time to indulge in my lack of trust, which becomes an insignificant thing. “These people are fighting for the dreams and aspirations of all of us Americans.”
Penn then provides details about the documentary he worked on and what he saw while in Ukraine. He also praised President Zelensky, a former comedian who played a president on television before being elected to office. “In him, I saw something I had never seen before,” Penn said. “It is clear to me that the Ukrainians will win. The question is at what cost “.
On MSNBC’s The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell, Penn also sang about President Zelensky and how he holds it all together, despite the raging war on Ukrainian soil.
“[Zelenskyy] is the face of so many Ukrainians. “And yet, he can not imagine that he could have known the day before that he could really get up,” Penn told O’Donnell. “This is the leadership we aspire to. This is the freedom of thought and true leadership that is so moving. It’s the kind of movement we need to be able to do [to the United States], which is marginal a kind of populist dance around a nation at this point. “We need to get back on track together and realize that Ukraine, with all its diversity, has a unity we have never seen in modern times with its challenge.”
Just before the Oscars in March, Penn went to CNN and told news presenter Jim Acosta that if the Oscars did not invite President Zelensky to speak, he would smell his Oscars.
“If it turns out to be what is happening, I will urge everyone involved, although it may be their time, and I understand that, in order for them to celebrate their films, it is much more important for them to shine, protest and boycott. the Oscars, “said Penn. “I myself, if he comes back, when I return, I will smell my own in public. I pray that this does not happen. “
While the Ukrainian president did not speak to the crowd at the Oscars, he made his appearance at the Grammys with a videotaped message.
