Actor George Clooney has stirred the political waters by calling for President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 presidential race. In a New York Times op-ed, Clooney, a long-time supporter and fundraiser for Biden, expressed his concerns about the president’s age and recent performance, particularly during a debate against Donald Trump.
Clooney’s critique is significant given his status as one of Biden’s most prominent Hollywood backers. His op-ed comes on the heels of a star-studded fundraiser he hosted for Biden, which raised over $30 million. Despite his admiration for Biden’s past achievements, Clooney emphasized that the president’s age is a critical issue that cannot be ignored.
“I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president,” Clooney wrote. “I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.” He noted that the Joe Biden he saw at a recent fundraiser was not the same dynamic figure from 2010 or even 2020, but rather the same man who struggled during the debate.
Clooney’s call for Biden to step aside is not an isolated sentiment. Other Hollywood figures and Democratic donors have echoed similar concerns. Actor Michael Douglas, who hosted a fundraiser for Biden in April, expressed his worries on “The View,” while filmmaker Rob Reiner supported Clooney’s op-ed on social media. Even CBS “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings have shown signs of losing faith in Biden’s candidacy.
Clooney’s op-ed also highlighted the broader concerns within the Democratic Party. He argued that the focus on defeating Trump has led to a dangerous neglect of Biden’s age-related issues. “This is about age. Nothing more,” Clooney wrote. “But also nothing that can be reversed. We are not going to win in November with this president.”
While Clooney did not endorse a specific replacement for Biden, he mentioned several potential candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris and governors like Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and California’s Gavin Newsom. He urged Democratic leaders to consider these alternatives to ensure a stronger chance of victory in the upcoming election.
Clooney’s concerns are not just his own. He claimed that many senators, congress members, and governors share his views privately, even if they do not express them publicly. This sentiment was somewhat corroborated by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who recently encouraged Biden to make a decision soon about his candidacy.
The actor’s call for Biden to step aside has added to the growing pressure on the president. Despite this, Biden has remained firm in his decision to stay in the race. His campaign pointed to a recent letter to congressional Democrats where he reiterated his commitment to running for re-election.
Clooney’s op-ed also touched on a broader issue within the Democratic Party: the need for new leadership. He argued that a fresh candidate could energize voters and bring new ideas to the table. “We can easily foresee a group of several strong Democrats stepping forward to stand and tell us why they’re best qualified to lead this country,” Clooney wrote.
He acknowledged that the process of selecting a new nominee could be “messy,” but he believed it would ultimately benefit the party. “Democracy is messy. But would it enliven our party and wake up voters who, long before the June debate, had already checked out? It sure would,” he wrote.
Clooney’s call for Biden to step aside has not gone unnoticed by the president. When asked about Clooney’s comments during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Biden responded by pumping his fists and referencing his recent endorsement from the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the U.S.
Despite the growing calls for him to step down, Biden remains defiant. His campaign has disputed Clooney’s portrayal of the president’s demeanor at the recent fundraiser, pointing out that Biden stayed for more than three hours at the event despite just returning from Europe.
As the 2024 election approaches, the Democratic Party faces a critical decision. Clooney’s op-ed has added to the chorus of voices urging Biden to reconsider his candidacy. Whether or not the president heeds these calls remains to be seen, but the debate over his age and fitness for office is likely to continue.
Source: The New York Times, The Associated Press
