LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 17: (L-R) Julia Roberts and George Clooney attend the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Ticket To Paradise" at Regency Village Theatre on October 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
George Clooney, a prominent Democratic donor, has called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, citing concerns about the president’s age and electability.
In a guest essay published Wednesday in The New York Times, Clooney wrote that Biden, 81, is “too old to seek re-election” and cannot win “the fight against time.”
The Oscar-winning actor, who co-hosted a record-breaking $28 million fundraiser for Biden last month, expressed concern about the president’s recent public appearances. Clooney noted a marked decline in Biden’s performance compared to previous years, particularly during the recent debate.
“The Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010,” Clooney wrote. “He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020.”
Clooney’s public statement marks a significant shift, as he is the most high-profile Democrat to call for Biden to end his campaign. The actor’s critique comes despite his longstanding support for the president and the Democratic Party.
The Hollywood fundraiser’s timing coincided with a busy period in Biden’s schedule. The president traveled from a G7 meeting in Italy to California for the event, then quickly returned to Washington. Following his underwhelming debate performance, Biden cited jet lag from this travel as a contributing factor.
In his essay, Clooney expressed concern shared by many Democrats about Biden’s public appearances. He wrote that party members are anxious “every time the president — who we respect — is positioned in front of a camera or microphone, afraid of another bad slip-up.”
The actor predicted dire consequences for the Democratic Party if Biden remains the nominee. “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,” Clooney stated.
He claimed this view is privately shared by numerous Democratic senators, representatives, and governors, regardless of their public statements.
Clooney called for other Democrats, such as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, to enter the race. He suggested a series of debates where candidates agreed not to attack each other.
While acknowledging that such a move would be “messy,” Clooney argued it would restore the party and re-engage voters who have lost interest in the election.
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