section_path: Personal life/Political views
section_name: Political views
paragraph_text: Political views
  
  In May 1989, Rourke revealed that he donated most of his £1.5 million earnings from starring in Francesco to support Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member Joe Doherty 's campaign to receive political asylum in the United States. Doherty was wanted by the British government for his role in the killing of Grenadier Guards officer Herbert Westmacott. After being arrested in the U.S. in 1983, Doherty's campaign became a cause célèbre as he fought an ultimately unsuccessful nine-year legal battle against being extradited. Rourke's donation was criticized by victims of IRA bombing attacks in England. Doherty was eventually deported to Northern Ireland and imprisoned, but was subsequently released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
  
  In June 2006, Rourke publicly supported U.S. President George W. Bush and American involvement in the Iraq War. In January 2009, Rourke expressed admiration for Bush in an interview with GQ magazine. In the interview, Rourke also expressed his astonishment that Islamic fundamentalists were allowed to continue their activities in Britain after the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
  
  In August 2014, Rourke came under scrutiny for purchasing and wearing a T-shirt bearing the likeness of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when most of the Western world was criticizing and sanctioning Russia due to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. When questioned by the press, Rourke explained: "If I didn't like him, I wouldn't buy the T-shirt, believe me. I met him a couple of times and he was a real gentleman. A very cool, regular guy. Looked me right in the eye. Good guy." However, Rourke has since denounced Putin for his role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has urged him to end the conflict.
  
  In 2015, Rourke expressed his support for the Ben Carson 2016 presidential campaign. He also denounced Republican frontrunner Donald Trump as a "bully". Rourke revealed that he has had a personal vendetta against Trump after an incident in which Trump sued both him and Tupac Shakur in the 1990s. Rourke has since been very vocal in his criticisms of Trump's presidency, referring to him as a "Garbage Can" president. In 2022, Rourke claimed that Trump had sent the United States Secret Service to visit him as a result of his comments on Trump.
  
  In July 2020, Rourke expressed support for Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election on his Instagram account, encouraging him to "Go get his fat ass, Joe @joebiden" and showing disapproval for Trump. In August, he expressed support for Kamala Harris following her nomination for vice president in the 2020 United States presidential election following previous approval of her earlier in July. In October, Rourke voted for Biden and Harris, which he said was the first time he had ever voted.
  
  In May 1989, Rourke revealed that he donated most of his £1.5 million earnings from starring in Francesco to support Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member Joe Doherty 's campaign to receive political asylum in the United States. Doherty was wanted by the British government for his role in the killing of Grenadier Guards officer Herbert Westmacott. After being arrested in the U.S. in 1983, Doherty's campaign became a cause célèbre as he fought an ultimately unsuccessful nine-year legal battle against being extradited. Rourke's donation was criticized by victims of IRA bombing attacks in England. Doherty was eventually deported to Northern Ireland and imprisoned, but was subsequently released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
  
  In June 2006, Rourke publicly supported U.S. President George W. Bush and American involvement in the Iraq War. In January 2009, Rourke expressed admiration for Bush in an interview with GQ magazine. In the interview, Rourke also expressed his astonishment that Islamic fundamentalists were allowed to continue their activities in Britain after the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
  
  In August 2014, Rourke came under scrutiny for purchasing and wearing a T-shirt bearing the likeness of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when most of the Western world was criticizing and sanctioning Russia due to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. When questioned by the press, Rourke explained: "If I didn't like him, I wouldn't buy the T-shirt, believe me. I met him a couple of times and he was a real gentleman. A very cool, regular guy. Looked me right in the eye. Good guy." However, Rourke has since denounced Putin for his role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has urged him to end the conflict.
  
  In 2015, Rourke expressed his support for the Ben Carson 2016 presidential campaign. He also denounced Republican frontrunner Donald Trump as a "bully". Rourke revealed that he has had a personal vendetta against Trump after an incident in which Trump sued both him and Tupac Shakur in the 1990s. Rourke has since been very vocal in his criticisms of Trump's presidency, referring to him as a "Garbage Can" president. In 2022, Rourke claimed that Trump had sent the United States Secret Service to visit him as a result of his comments on Trump.
  
  In July 2020, Rourke expressed support for Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election on his Instagram account, encouraging him to "Go get his fat ass, Joe @joebiden" and showing disapproval for Trump. In August, he expressed support for Kamala Harris following her nomination for vice president in the 2020 United States presidential election following previous approval of her earlier in July. In October, Rourke voted for Biden and Harris, which he said was the first time he had ever voted.