The celebrated Canadian-American novelist John Irving has announced he will be forgoing a planned U.S. book tour, citing profound dismay over the policies and leadership of President Donald Trump. In a statement to the “Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung”, Irving characterized Trump’s presidency as an embodiment of “authoritarian fascism” expressing a level of distress he has reportedly never felt before.
“I will not be visiting the country in which I was born on this book tour” Irving declared. “In the hands of this dictator, I do not recognize my beloved country; it is a totalitarian regime”. The author, now residing in Toronto, emphasized the personal pain of this decision, acknowledging he deeply misses the connection to his homeland, particularly during significant publications. Invitations for interviews and discussions will be accommodated remotely, via Toronto or Zoom, but a physical presence within the United States is explicitly ruled out.
Irving’s critique extended beyond simple disagreement with policy, alleging a systematic erosion of constitutional checks and balances. He accused Trump of expanding executive power beyond constitutional limits, further criticizing the legislative bodies – the House and Senate – for enabling this overreach. “The so-called legislators in the U.S. House and Senate know he is exceeding his powers and they let it happen. The cowardly Republicans are complicit in their silence” Irving asserted. The author placed Trump’s trajectory within a broader context of a resurgence of far-right ideologies across the globe, voicing alarm at the speed and unchecked nature of the current political climate.
The author’s decision also reflects a deterioration in relations between the United States and Canada. Referencing a recent lunch with fellow author Margaret Atwood, Irving noted a unprecedented level of unified rejection of American leadership among Canadians. “There has never been such agreement among Canadians in their rejection of the United States – not even during the Vietnam War” he revealed. Although the sentiment is not aimed at individual Americans, Irving insists that “anyone who cares about democracy must reject Donald Trump”. The move underscores the growing political chasm between the two nations and adds a significant voice to the growing international dissent over the direction of American political leadership.