Martin Sheen says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents sport masks in order to hide the fact that they’re “not proud of what they’re doing.”
“I think one of the reasons so many of the soldiers and the ICE folks, I think that they’re covering their faces because they don’t want to show their emotion,” Sheen, a longtime Democratic supporter and fundraiser, told Nicolle Wallace at the MSNBC Live event in New York on Saturday.
“They don’t want to show that they’re not proud of what they’re doing — particularly when they’re dealing with mothers, and children and undocumented people who are of no threat whatsoever,” the 85-year-old actor, who played fictional President Jed Bartlet on NBC’s “The West Wing,” said.
Despite criticism, ICE acting Director Todd Lyons has defended the use of masks for agents in the field.
“I’ve said it publicly before, I’m not a proponent of the masks. However, if that’s a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their family safe, then I will allow it,” Lyons said in July, citing agents who had been “severely doxed.”
In his conversation with Wallace, Sheen said of ICE agents and officials, “People are doing this because they want to be on the side that’s winning. And it’s not going to last. It cannot last.”
“It’s the great lie — but there’s a great hunger for truth,” Sheen said.
“It’s a mighty battle going on. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about being in touch with your own personal humanity, because there’s such a lack of it coming from this administration,” the performer said, before ripping President Trump’s Cabinet officials.
“When you look at this group of people at the round table in… the Cabinet Room, every one of those people look across the table and they do not see anyone who is better than they are,” he said.
“They generally see a reflection of their worst selves — so there’s no heroes in there. There’s no music, there’s no laughter, there’s no self-effacement. There’s no joy in that room. It smells of ego, and fear and false worship,” the “Apocalypse Now” star said to applause.
“If we don’t find our own personal humanity, we cannot possibly find it or see it in each other,” Sheen said.
“If we’re lucky enough to surrender and accept the responsibility that we start as a nothing, basically, except our humanity, and then we realize, oh my God, being human is all we need.”
Sheen also offered some “personal advice” to Trump, telling the crowd, “You’ve got to realize, sir, that you are the biggest nothing in the world.”
“Stop listening to all these people around you, these sycophants, who are encouraging you to be your non-human self,” he continued.
“Get in touch with that humanity. Stop fussing with your hair. Don’t worry about your tie. And stand up straight and speak clearly — not from your throat — speak from your heart,” Sheen said.
“Start being human — that’s what you were made for, not golf,” Sheen said, wrapping up his suggestions for the president.
“So there you are, Mr. President, with all due respect, sir,” he said.
