Venice, Italy - Veteran film star George Clooney said Wednesday the US would surmount an "unfortunate" time in its history under the Trump administration, calling it a government run by the "least qualified people".

Clooney spoke to the media on the opening day of the Venice Film Festival, where he is to be awarded a Golden Lion for career achievement.

In a press conference that touched on his career, artificial intelligence, climate change, and the state of the filmmaking industry, Clooney expressed feeling "ashamed" of the US government.

"I do believe... we're at a moment in time that's unfortunate. I think that's an understatement," said the 65-year-old star, who has spoken out against the Trump administration in the past.

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"There's a great word, a kakistocracy, which is a country run by the least qualified people. I think maybe we have a kakistocracy right now, but we'll get through it," he said.

Midterm elections in November may provide a "check and balance", he said, while "in 2028, with any luck, we'll have some restoration into some normalcy," said Clooney.

Calling himself an optimist, Clooney said he remembered living through other dark times in the country's history.

"I'm old enough to have been through 1968 in the States when every city in the United States was set on fire and we lost Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy in the same year," he said.

"There was tons of violence. The Capitol was surrounded with tanks," he said. "We've had some other difficult times, but this is one of them."

He cited a tweet posted this week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appearing to mock the physical appearance of an overweight female Canadian soldier presenting a medal at a youth camp.

"Where's the sense of decency in all of this? And I'm ashamed of all of that, but we will get through it," said Clooney. "And we will come out better on the other side."