In a fiery social media post on Wednesday evening, former President Donald Trump targeted actor George Clooney following Clooney’s op-ed urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Trump, known for his sharp critiques of Hollywood figures, dismissed Clooney’s opinions, calling him a “fake movie actor” and criticizing his film career.
“So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “He’s turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are. What does Clooney know about anything?”
Trump didn’t stop there, advising Clooney to exit the political arena altogether. “Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television,” he added. “Movies never really worked for him!!!”
The former president’s comments came in response to Clooney’s op-ed published in the New York Times on Wednesday. Clooney, a staunch Democrat and prominent fundraiser for Biden, expressed his admiration for Biden’s character and achievements but voiced concerns about his ability to win the upcoming election.
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals,” Clooney wrote. “In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced.”
However, Clooney noted that Biden’s age and recent performance were significant hurdles. “But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can,” he wrote. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.”
Clooney acknowledged the potential chaos of Biden stepping aside but argued it was necessary. “Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020,” Clooney concluded. “We need him to do it again in 2024.”
Trump refuted Clooney’s assertions, deploying his usual critical rhetoric. “He uses the Democrat ‘talking point’ that Biden, the WORST President in the history of the United States, has ‘saved our Democracy,’” Trump posted. “No, Crooked Joe was the one who WEAPONIZED Law Enforcement against his political Opponent, who created the most devastating INFLATION in the history of our Country, who Embarrassed our Nation in Afghanistan, and whose crazy Open Border Policy has allowed millions of people to illegally pour into our Country, many from prisons and mental institutions.”
“Crooked Joe Biden didn’t save our Democracy, he brought our Democracy to its knees,” Trump added.
Clooney’s call for Biden to withdraw is part of a growing chorus of Democrats expressing concerns about Biden’s candidacy following a lackluster debate performance last month against Trump. Biden’s debate showing, marked by verbal stumbles, a raspy voice, and low energy, has fueled worries about his age and mental fitness to both win the election and serve another term.
Despite these concerns, the White House and Biden’s supporters maintain that he will stay in the race. Trump, while mocking Biden’s debate performance, has paradoxically encouraged him to remain in the race.
Following Clooney’s lead, actor Michael Douglas also voiced concerns about Biden’s campaign. Appearing on ABC’s “The View” on Wednesday, Douglas called Biden a “wonderful guy” but said Clooney’s plea for Biden to step aside was “valid.”
As of now, Clooney’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
Credit: The Hill
