In a stunning political intervention that has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, Hollywood A-lister George Clooney has publicly called for President Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 presidential race.
The actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser published a devastating opinion piece in The New York Times, declaring that the 81-year-old president "cannot prevail" against Donald Trump in November's election.
A Dramatic Reversal After High-Profile Fundraiser
Clooney's public break with Biden comes just three weeks after he co-hosted a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles that raised a record $30 million for the Democratic campaign. The event, which featured Biden alongside Clooney and former president Barack Obama, was intended to showcase party unity and financial strength.
"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, referencing Biden's famous hot-mic moment. "He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."
The Debate Performance That Changed Everything
Clooney cited Biden's disastrous June debate performance against Donald Trump as the pivotal moment that convinced him the president could not continue his campaign. His assessment carries particular weight given his previous strong support and his position as a prominent Democratic voice.
"We are not going to win in November with this president," Clooney stated bluntly, adding that top Democrats who had voiced concerns about Biden's viability were "nervously putting their fingers in the wind" rather than speaking truth publicly.
Mounting Pressure on Biden Campaign
The actor's intervention represents the most high-profile Democratic defection to date and significantly increases pressure on Biden to reconsider his determination to remain in the race. Clooney's piece appeared just as Congress returned to Washington, with many Democratic lawmakers increasingly anxious about their own electoral prospects.
Despite the growing chorus of concern, the Biden campaign has remained defiant. Campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon responded to Clooney's piece by insisting the president "is in this race to win it" and would not be withdrawing.
The Kamala Harris Question
While Clooney did not explicitly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden's replacement, his piece acknowledged she would be the most likely successor if the president did step aside. This comes as some Democratic donors and officials have begun exploring alternative scenarios.
The timing of Clooney's declaration, as Democrats gather for their national convention in Chicago next month, creates a critical moment of decision for the party leadership and could potentially reshape the entire presidential contest.
