Judge Judy Says Critics Should Leave America If They Don’t Like It, Defends Capitalism: ‘Go Somewhere Else’

Judge Judy

Judge Judy Says Critics Should Leave America If They Don’t Like It, Defends Capitalism: ‘Go Somewhere Else’

Judge Judy Sheindlin is making her feelings about America and capitalism clear, telling people who don’t like the country that they should consider going somewhere else.

In a new interview with USA TODAY marking the 30th anniversary of Judge Judy, the 83-year-old TV personality said that despite America’s flaws, she remains proud of the country. “If you don’t like this country, go somewhere else,” Sheindlin said. She added, “Don’t come to the greatest country in the world, the most successful country in the world and say, ‘I want to change it.’”

Sheindlin also pushed back against socialism while defending capitalism and entrepreneurship. “We are a capitalist country that revered excellence, that revered entrepreneurship, that revered all the things that made us great,” she said, pointing to innovations including the polio vaccine, Apple, Amazon and artificial intelligence. She added that America achieved those things because “we encouraged brilliance and excellence.”

The longtime TV judge also challenged the idea that everyone is equal in their individual abilities and characteristics. “Everybody’s not equal,” she said, explaining that some people are tall or short, musical or not, and otherwise naturally different from one another. Elsewhere in the interview, Sheindlin said she believes many Americans long for a time when “people respected each other,” while expressing concern about political divisions, racism, antisemitism, hate speech and violence.

The interview comes as CBS celebrates 30 years since Judge Judy debuted with the 90-minute special Judge Judy: Unfiltered, Unforgettable. The special features Sheindlin reflecting on her career alongside appearances from Samuel L. Jackson, RuPaul, Amy Poehler, Sherry Lansing and Steven Spielberg.