At the Venice Film Festival, actor George Clooney sparked controversy with his comments on President Biden’s decision to step down from the 2024 presidential race. Clooney, who was promoting his new film “Wolfs,” told reporters on Fox News that Biden’s decision was “the most selfless thing that anyone’s done since George Washington.”
Clooney elaborated, saying, “What should be remembered is the selfless act of someone who — you know, it’s very hard to let go of power. We know that. We’ve seen it all around the world. And for someone to say, ‘I think there’s a better way forward.’ All the credit goes to him … And all the rest of it will be long gone and forgotten.”
These remarks come just a few months after Clooney penned a guest essay in The New York Times titled, “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” where he expressed concerns about Biden’s fitness for office. In the essay, published shortly after Biden’s lackluster debate performance against former President Trump, Clooney 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’s essay and subsequent comments have fueled speculation that he, along with former President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer, played a role in pushing Biden out of the race. Clooney’s harsh critique of Biden’s performance during the debate highlighted concerns about the president’s age and ability to lead the country to victory in November.
While Clooney praised Biden’s decision as a selfless act, many on social media were quick to criticize the actor. One user commented, “Biden is a coward and a quitter. George Washington decided not to run again. They are not the same.” Another user accused Clooney of being involved in a “coup to overthrow an American president and the democrat nominee.”
Clooney’s comments have also drawn attention to his wife, Amal Clooney, who has been outspoken about international justice issues. In July, Amal Clooney voiced her support for the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for both Palestinian and Israeli leaders over the war with Hamas, reportedly causing tension with Biden’s administration.
As the controversy continues to swirl, Clooney’s remarks at the Venice Film Festival have only added to the ongoing debate about Biden’s decision to step aside and the role prominent figures like Clooney may have played in that process.