George Clooney, a prominent figure in Hollywood and a longtime Democratic donor, publicly defended his decision to publish an opinion piece urging President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 election. In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, he reaffirmed his stance, stating that he would have written the piece again, even with the knowledge that Donald Trump had been re-elected.
Clooney’s op-ed, published in the New York Times, called for Biden to exit the race following a poor performance in their only presidential debate. He argued that Biden’s decline in mental and physical capabilities had become evident, and that the Democratic Party’s decision to run Kamala Harris as Biden’s running mate was a mistake. Clooney maintained that a fair primary process should have been held to determine the most viable candidate, rather than allowing Harris to face challenges without the chance to prove herself.
During the interview, Clooney also responded to criticisms from Hunter Biden, who had previously accused the actor of sabotaging his father’s campaign on behalf of the Obama team. Clooney dismissed these allegations as baseless and emphasized that the focus should be on the Democratic Party’s messaging and the broader implications of the 2024 election. He expressed hope for Biden’s recovery and encouraged the public to move on from the controversy, stating that dwelling on past disputes was unhelpful.
The actor’s comments reflect the internal tensions within the Democratic Party as they grapple with the decision to withdraw Biden from the race and the implications for their chances of winning in November. Clooney’s call for honesty and integrity in the political process has sparked both support and criticism, highlighting the complex dynamics of political strategy and public perception in a highly polarized climate.