George Clooney revealed he once knew Donald Trump “very well” before politics transformed their relationship, describing the president as “a big goofball” in years past.
The 64-year-old actor told Variety in an interview published on December 30, 2025, that Trump used to call him frequently during their earlier acquaintance. The president even tried to help Clooney get into a hospital to see a back surgeon, and the two would regularly cross paths at clubs and restaurants.
Clooney said Trump changed after entering politics. The transformation marked the end of what had been a seemingly friendly relationship between the Hollywood star and the businessman-turned-president.
The remarks come after Trump has publicly criticized Clooney, calling him a second-rate movie star and a backstabber. The president’s attacks on the actor intensified after Clooney wrote an op-ed in 2024 calling for Biden to drop his reelection bid.
When asked about Trump’s comments during an appearance on CBS Mornings with Gayle King on April 21, 2025, Clooney said he doesn’t care about the president’s remarks. The actor’s dismissive response underscored his willingness to maintain his political positions despite facing criticism from the nation’s highest office.
Clooney’s political involvement in 2024 proved controversial within Democratic circles. His public call for Biden to step aside came at a crucial moment in the campaign season, adding fuel to internal party debates about the candidate’s viability. The actor’s willingness to voice such concerns publicly demonstrated his commitment to speaking out on political matters, regardless of personal consequences.
In June, the actor was starring in the Broadway play Good Night and Good Luck. The production explored themes of journalistic integrity and speaking truth to power, subject matter that resonates with Clooney’s own public stances on political accountability.
Beyond his theatrical pursuits, Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney recently obtained French citizenship, along with their eight-year-old twins. The family’s decision to establish deeper roots in France reflects the actor’s concerns about raising children within Hollywood’s celebrity culture. The move to France provides the Clooney children with a different upbringing than they would experience in Los Angeles, where their father’s fame would attract constant attention.
While Clooney has maintained his criticism of Trump, other Hollywood figures have embraced the president during his second term. Carrie Underwood performed at Trump’s inauguration on January 20, lending her star power to the ceremony marking the beginning of his return to office. Country singers Jason Aldean and Kid Rock have also made multiple public appearances supporting the president.
Trump appointed Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as Hollywood special envoys, tasking the three actors with promoting business interests in the entertainment capital. The informal appointments signal Trump’s effort to maintain relationships within an industry that has historically leaned Democratic.
The transformation of Trump from the person Clooney once knew to the polarizing political figure of today represents a broader shift in American public life. Many celebrities and public figures who once socialized with Trump in New York’s club scene have found themselves at odds with his political persona. The businessman who cultivated relationships with Hollywood stars and attended entertainment industry events bears little resemblance to the president who regularly attacks actors and media figures on social media.
Clooney’s willingness to discuss his past friendship with Trump provides a window into the real estate mogul’s pre-political life. The actor’s recollections of Trump as someone who would make calls to help friends with medical appointments or show up at social gatherings paint a picture of a different era in both men’s lives. These personal anecdotes humanize a relationship that has since soured amid political divisions.
The actor continues to balance his entertainment career with political advocacy.
As Trump’s second term progresses, the divide between the president and Hollywood’s liberal establishment shows no signs of narrowing. Clooney’s reminiscences about their former friendship serve as a reminder of how much the political landscape has changed, transforming social relationships into public feuds played out across media platforms and interviews. The actor’s frank assessment that Trump was “a big goofball” who changed after entering politics encapsulates the bewilderment many former associates express about the president’s evolution from celebrity businessman to controversial political leader.
George Clooney stars in “Jay Kelly,” a deeply introspective comedy-drama directed by Oscar-nominee Noah Baumbach that premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2025 before its theatrical release in November and Netflix debut in December. The film follows Clooney as the titular character, an aging movie star who embarks on a soul-searching journey through Europe with his devoted manager Ron, played by Adam Sandler, confronting the personal costs of his decades-long pursuit of fame—particularly his fractured relationships with his two daughters and the emotional isolation that comes with celebrity.
The meta-narrative deliberately plays on Clooney’s real-life persona as a Hollywood leading man, featuring actual clips from his career in an in-film tribute reel, while exploring themes of regret, legacy, and authenticity. Both Clooney and Sandler earned Golden Globe nominations for their performances, with critics praising Clooney’s vulnerable portrayal of a man grappling with what he’s sacrificed for success and Sandler’s dramatic range. The film has received generally positive reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes), with particular acclaim for Billy Crudup’s scene-stealing cameo as Jay’s former acting school rival and the film’s emotionally honest refusal to provide an easy redemption arc for its protagonist.
