Italy’s Salvini Tells Richard Gere to Take Stranded Migrants to Hollywood on His Jet

Gere, NGO appeal to EU leaders to find port for marooned ship
Ship with 160 rescued migrants has been barred entry in Italy

Richard Gere helps serving meals to migrants aboard the Open Arms Spanish humanitarian boat on Aug. 9.Photographer: Francisco Gentico/AP Photo

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By Alessandro Speciale and Jeannette Neumann

August 10, 2019 at 3:37 PM UTC

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Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini suggested Richard Gere fly 160 migrants stranded off the Italian coast back to Hollywood on his “private jet” after the actor made a plea to European leaders to find a port for the ship.

Gere joined representatives from the non-governmental organization Open Arms at a press conference on the Italian island of Lampedusa to appeal to take in the ship. Salvini has refused to allow the vessel into Italian waters, the latest episode highlighting Europe’s divisions over immigration.