Actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser George Clooney has called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. In a New York Times op-ed published Wednesday, Clooney urged the Democratic Party to select a new nominee, citing Biden’s poor performance in the recent debate against former President Donald Trump. Clooney expressed his concerns about the party’s chances in the upcoming election, stating, “We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate. This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor who I’ve spoken with in private.”
Clooney’s op-ed comes just weeks after he co-hosted a high-profile fundraiser for the Biden campaign, which included notable figures such as former President Barack Obama, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, and actress Julia Roberts. The event raised $30 million, a record sum for a single Democratic fundraiser. However, Clooney’s support for Biden appears to have waned following the president’s debate performance.
“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,” Clooney wrote. “He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.”
Clooney acknowledged that Biden may have been tired or unwell during the debate but warned Democrats about the risks of continuing with Biden as the nominee. He urged Democratic lawmakers not to “wait and see if the dam breaks,” stating, “the dam has broken. We can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth.”
Clooney suggested that a fresh nominee could invigorate the Democratic Party and “wake up voters,” drawing a parallel to recent legislative elections in France where the far-right was blocked from a significant win. He highlighted the Democratic Party’s “exciting bench” and proposed selecting a new candidate at the Democratic National Convention in August. Potential candidates mentioned by Clooney include Vice President Kamala Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
The call for Biden to step aside has gained traction among some Democratic lawmakers. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi stated that it is “up to the president to decide” if he should stay in the race. Vermont Senator Peter Welch became the first Senate Democrat to publicly call for Biden to withdraw, expressing his concerns about the stakes of the upcoming election. “We cannot unsee President Biden’s disastrous debate performance,” Welch wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece.
The debate performance has raised questions about Biden’s health and ability to lead, with some Democratic senators expressing doubts about his chances of winning the election. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet warned that Trump “is on track to win this election — and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the Senate and the House.” Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal also voiced his concerns, stating, “We have to reach a conclusion as soon as possible.”
Despite these concerns, Biden maintains strong support from key segments of his coalition, particularly within the Congressional Black Caucus. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota emphasized the importance of focusing on the election, stating, “Democracy is on the line. Everything we value as Democrats, as a country, is on the line, and we have to stop being distracted.”
Pelosi’s comments have been closely watched for signals about the party’s direction. While she has not explicitly called for Biden to withdraw, her lack of a full endorsement for his continued campaign has been noted. Pelosi described Biden as a “great president” who is beloved and respected by House Democrats, and she encouraged Democrats to hold off on any announcements about his campaign until after the NATO summit.
Biden’s campaign is working to address concerns and shore up support. The president met with labor leaders and is sending senior advisers to meet with Democratic senators privately. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated his support for Biden, stating, “As I have made clear repeatedly publicly and privately, I support President Biden and remain committed to ensuring Donald Trump is defeated in November.”
The situation remains fluid, with Biden facing significant pressure from within his party to reconsider his candidacy. As the Democratic National Convention approaches, the party must decide whether to continue backing Biden or to seek a new nominee to lead them into the 2024 election.
Source: CBS News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press
