Scottish actor Alan Cumming turns Emmys victory speech political as he calls for action from American voters
Alan Cumming used his moment on the Emmy stage on Monday night, after The Traitors claimed its third consecutive award for outstanding reality competition programme, to deliver a call to action from the American public at home.
The Scottish actor, accepting the prize on behalf of the show’s production team, praised viewers before turning to politics.
After also praising his The Traitors USA colleagues, the outspoken anti-Donald Trump actor signed off his speech: “Finally, tonight we have received the most votes, but tomorrow is voter registration day in this country, so please make sure you are registered to vote.
“Because the time for talk is over, it is now time to vote, America!”
Alan Cumming celebrated another Emmy win for The Traitors
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Tuesday marks National Voter Registration Day in the United States ahead of November’s crucial midterm elections.
The actor’s comments were widely welcomed by Emmy Awards viewers at home, many of whom took to X to applaud his intervention, despite hailing from across the Atlantic.
“Atta boy Alan, for advertising voter registration. #Emmys,” one X user penned.
“Alan Cumming reminding ppl that registration to vote is tmrw. #Emmy,” a second added, followed by a prayer emoji. (sic)
Alan Cumming called for US members of the public to register to vote
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And a third added: “It’s sad that a Scottish-born man has to remind Americans to make sure they’re registered to vote by tomorrow cause the rest of the world sees how messed up we’ve become #Emmys.”
A fourth concurred: “See how he got up there and said tomorrow is voter registration day… and go vote, America! #EMMYS.”
Elsewhere, a fifth weighed in: “#EmmyAwards YOU HEARD ALAN CUMMING TOMORROW IS REGISTRATION DAY YOU WANT HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED TO GO AWAY DON’T YOU?” (sic)
And another praised the actor: “#78thEmmyAwards Bravo Alan Cumming for telling people to register to vote! He didn’t get political; he just said to vote.”
Alan Cumming took to the Emmys stage on Monday night
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Elsewhere in his speech, Mr Cumming praised the show’s viewership: “The audience is so amazing, it is so diverse and it’s just incredible the way you all get together and watch the show together. That is so beautiful – that a show about treachery and betrayal brings people together.”
The victory capped a record-breaking year for the reality series, which collected all seven awards it was nominated for.
This surpassed the previous single-season record of six wins held by RuPaul’s Drag Race since 2020. The Traitors has now amassed 15 Emmy trophies in total, drawing level with The Amazing Race on the all-time competition programme leaderboard.
Mr Cumming himself secured his third consecutive hosting award, putting him just one behind Survivor presenter Jeff Probst.
Alan Cumming has been a vocal Trump critic
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While Mr Cumming stopped short of attacking the US President, his disdain for Trump is well-known. He’s previously branded the US a “fascist state” under the president’s rule.
The Scotsman’s plea also happened to arrive on the same day the US Supreme Court handed Trump a significant defeat on voting access.
The court rejected the president’s attempt to impose new mail-in ballot restrictions ahead of the midterms, meaning states can continue dispatching postal ballots under their existing processes.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas were the sole dissenters from the order, whilst Brett Kavanaugh indicated he might side with the administration should the matter return to the court at a later date.
Alan Cumming accepted the Reality Competition Program for #TheTraitorsUS at #Emmys: “Please make sure you’re registered to vote because the time for talk is over, it is now time to vote, America.” pic.twitter.com/G65HKufnSA
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 15, 2026
Postal voting has already commenced in Alabama, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
The blocked plan would have compelled states to submit voter lists to an online portal and adopt standardised envelope barcodes, with the Postal Service empowered to refuse delivery to non-compliant states.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s own midterm strategy has centred on a bold financial promise.
Speaking at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, the president pledged a $5,000 payout to every American adult should his party retain control of both congressional chambers in November.
The offer, which would cost an estimated $1.3 trillion given the country’s nearly 270 million adults, came with no details on funding or mechanism. Inevitably, Democrats swiftly dismissed it as an “empty promise.”
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