Actress Dame Julie Andrews has spoken out against budget plans planned by United States President Donald Trump in a released statement during a recent interview on Australian television. Without directly appearing to mention him by name, she highlighted Trump’s recently unveiled budget proposal to slash funding for the arts. She had also recently co-written an op-ed shortly before over the subject, that was published before the budget plans had been unveiled.

Andrews referred to the proposed budget cuts as ‘heartbreaking’

Andrews appeared for an interview on an episode of "The Project," where she referred to the idea as being both "heartbreaking" and "mind boggling," adding that she could not imagine anyone wanting to cut funding for the arts.

She also emphasized the importance of having a "government that supports you and sends the message that the arts are important," although she reportedly did not explicitly address Trump. Andrews appeared on the Brisbane program through the use of a video link, although the star is believed to currently be in Australia directing a new stage show.

President Trump's plans include eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities and cutting funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Reportedly, this is to be done to increase spending for defense and homeland security. Since its announcement, the plans have had a mixed reaction. Some, such as White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, felt it was unfair for the lower class to have to fund programs for the arts, but was reasonable to expect them to pay for defense.

Others have defended financially supporting the arts as necessary, as people rely on public media for information.

This is not the first time Andrews has spoken out for the arts

In addition to appearing on the program, Andrews also appeared recently in print to defend similar views, having written an op-ed for CNN with her daughter, Emma Walton-Hamilton, published days before, also defending the arts from budget cuts.

Andrews notably discussed the piece while appearing in the video interview. According to Andrews, the piece had been written before she heard of Trump’s plans.

Having had a career lasting around fifty years, Andrews is known for her roles in “Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music,” “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” and the stage version of “My Fair Lady.” She also recently made headlines with a new children’s series for Netflix, “Julie’s Greenroom,” which teaches children about different aspects of professions in the arts, such as writing and acting.