Oscar-winning director Adam McKay said Thursday that no group in America is worse for the country than white liberals [1].
McKay's comments signal a sharp public break from the Democratic establishment and the cultural elite of Hollywood. By targeting a specific demographic of his own perceived peer group, the filmmaker is highlighting a growing internal rift regarding the efficacy of the current political system.
Speaking on the “Urgent Futures” podcast with host Jesse Damiani on May 14, 2026 [1], McKay said that white liberals are the most harmful group in American politics [2]. He said the group is “smug and captured” and that the issue ultimately boils down to privilege [3].
McKay said that white liberals are getting a lot from a broken system [4]. According to the director, this benefit makes them uniquely detrimental to the country's progress [4].
Following the podcast interview, the comments were discussed on the Fox News program “The Five” [5]. McKay said he has no regrets after ditching the Democrats [1].
Throughout the discussion, McKay focused on the contradiction between the public image of liberal activism, and the actual material benefits those individuals receive from existing power structures [2]. He said the group is fundamentally disconnected from the realities of the systems they claim to oppose [3].
“"No group is worse for America than white liberals."”
McKay's critique reflects a broader trend of high-profile figures questioning the performative nature of political activism within affluent circles. By framing the issue as one of material benefit and systemic capture, he is shifting the critique from policy disagreements to a fundamental analysis of class and privilege within the American left.
