George Clooney, the highly acclaimed actor and long-time Democratic supporter, has issued a response to a pointed criticism from ex-President Donald Trump. The disagreement originated from Clooney’s divisive op-ed in The New York Times, in which he encouraged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election, citing worries about Biden’s capability to perform presidential duties. Trump, famous for his candidness, hit back at Clooney calling him a “fake movie actor” and condemned his involvement in political matters.
The comments from Trump were shared on his social media site, Truth Social, where he declared, “So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act. He’s turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are. What does Clooney know about anything? Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!!!”
Widely recognized for his political activism as well as his success in the film industry, Clooney didn’t hesitate to reply. During his visit to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on September 17, 2024, the actor directly addressed Trump’s statements. Using his typical wit, Clooney humorously noted that he would withdraw from politics if Trump did likewise, which was met with laughter and applause from the audience.
While Clooney’s decision to articulate concerns that others within the Democratic Party might have been reluctant to express publicly has been applauded by some, his critique was not without negative reactions. Trump’s Truth Social post was the most direct reply, but there have been numerous responses from political circles either supporting or challenging Clooney’s plea for a change in leadership.
In his discussion on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Clooney acknowledged that penning the op-ed was risky, as his public statements could potentially influence the political scene in a negative way. Nevertheless, the op-ed played a significant role in Biden’s decision to step down from the race, opening the path for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee.
Although the extent to which Clooney’s op-ed affected Biden’s decision to exit the race has been a topic of much debate, Kimmel proposed that the letter was a major factor. Clooney, on the other hand, minimized his influence, giving credit to Biden for making the tough and unprecedented decision to step down.
Notwithstanding the ongoing dispute between Trump and Clooney, the actor continues to participate in political dialogues. As a top Democratic fundraiser in Hollywood, Clooney has consistently backed various candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.
