Theo James Says Raising a Son in the Age of Trumpism Is Terrifying—Here’s Why

Theo James just talked about the part of fatherhood that freaks him out a bit: raising a boy in a culture that rewards showing off more than empathy. It is not a shockingly hot take, but he puts it plainly — and yeah, he is thinking about Donald Trump-era status chasing while he says it.

"It is terrifying having a son, because people get lured into that idea very easily."

Where this came from

James, 41, opened up on the April 8 episode of Josh Smith's Great Chat Show. He framed it like this: capitalism rules the room right now, and if you flaunt money and toys, you get celebrated — a vibe he links to Trump-style culture. His worry is simple: boys grow up watching that and think it is the only script.

What he is actually pushing for (and what he is not)

He is not trying to rebrand himself as a hyperwoke dad. He said the goal is more basic: teach empathy and some actual moral compass. The problem, as he sees it, is that bragging about making piles of cash is treated as cooler than being decent, and that kind of victory lap is hollow once the buzz wears off.

Quick family catch-up

• James and actor Ruth Kearney, also 41, married in 2018.
• Their daughter arrived in 2021.
• Their son was born in late 2023.
• At the Emmys in January 2024, James said they were navigating life with a 4-month-old — very much in the trenches.
• They have not shared either child’s name and keep their family private.

Toxic masculinity, identity, and why it sticks

The White Lotus alum thinks a lot of the uglier behavior from men starts with shaky identity. If you feel unmoored or minimized, and you are surrounded by successful, strong women you are not sure how to engage with, it is tempting to grab on to easy markers: cash, muscle, bravado, telling people off. That is the shortcut. The harder path is figuring out who you are without the props.

Men, mental health, and the body-image trap

James said he tries to be upfront with his friends about mental health and keeps those conversations open because, in his words, it hits a lot of men. He also called out the body piece: women have had to navigate body standards forever, and now more men are chasing identity through size — bigger, more ripped, more swole — which he thinks is part of the same mess. It keeps evolving, but the pressure is real.

Bottom line: he wants to raise his son to see through the noise — less flex, more empathy — even if that is not what gets the most likes right now.