Year in Review: The George Clooney op-ed that stirred a ‘coup’ and an election loss
The article discusses a notable moment in the political landscape involving actor and Democratic fundraiser George Clooney. Following a disappointing debate performance by President Joe Biden, Clooney published an op-ed in July 2023, expressing concerns about Biden’s capabilities and advocating for a new Democratic nominee. He suggested potential successors, calling for voices like Wes Moore and Kamala Harris to take the lead. Clooney’s critique was both praised and criticized, leading to a contentious atmosphere as Biden ultimately ceded the Democratic nomination to Harris.
The op-ed highlighted Clooney’s initial support for Biden, referencing a major fundraiser he held that raised a remarkable $28 million. However, videos of Biden during this event were released, showing him appearing lost on stage, which fueled Clooney’s call for change.In response to clooney, former President Donald Trump remarked negatively about the actor’s involvement in politics, suggesting he should return to television.
As the political landscape evolved, Clooney, buoyed by recent developments, expressed his continued support for Biden and praised his leadership, even as he faced backlash from Trump and others. After the November elections, Clooney reportedly considered stepping back from political commentary, feeling it was unjust for him to be seen as a scapegoat for any election losses. The piece ultimately reflects on the intertwining of celebrity and politics, underscoring the complexities and challenges faced by those in the public eye.
Year in review: The Hollywood op-ed that stirred a ‘coup’ and an election loss
Democratic fundraiser and Hollywood actor George Clooney led the charge in July, just weeks after President Joe Biden‘s disastrous presidential debate performance, when he issued a pressure campaign to oust the leading Democratic presidential candidate.
“I love Joe Biden,” Clooney began his brutal July 10 guest essay in the New York Times.
“It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser 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,” the celebrity wrote.
Clooney declared that “we need a new nominee.”
“Let’s hear from Wes Moore and Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear and J.B. Pritzker and others,” Clooney wrote.
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The Ocean’s Eleven star had held a star-studded event in Los Angeles for Biden that raised a record $28 million. At the fundraiser, a video leaked of the president seeming lost onstage and former President Barack Obama helping lead him off the stage.
The White House called the fundraiser videos of Biden a “cheap fake,” but Clooney’s op-ed revealed what he saw that night at the fundraiser.
The satire website Babylon Bee mocked Clooney’s fundraiser and op-ed with the headline, “In New ‘Ocean’s 14’, George Clooney Pulls Off $30 Million Heist By Tricking People Into Giving Money To Politician Before Revealing He’s Demented.”
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The actor-director received praise and criticism for his effort that succeeded in Biden handing the Democratic nomination to his vice president.
“President Biden has shown what true leadership is,” Clooney said. “He’s saving democracy once again. We’re all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest.”
In September, Clooney lauded Biden for doing “the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington.”
Then-presidential nominee Donald Trump slammed Clooney on his social media platform Truth Social by saying the actor “turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are.”
“Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!!!” Trump blasted.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel asked Clooney about Trump’s comments telling the actor to “get out of politics.”
“I will if he does,” Clooney responded.
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“They stole the presidency of the United States. You can call it a coup, you can call it whatever. But they stole it,” Trump said at a Florida campaign rally. “The way they took that away from him was not right.”
Following November’s election, Clooney was reportedly said to be taking a step back from politics and thinks it is “unfair” to be seen as “a scapegoat for her loss.”
A Politico report shared that Obama knew about Clooney’s essay in the New York Times before its publication and “didn’t object to it.”
Clooney reportedly has been “complaining that Obama” had “manipulated him into doing the dirty work on his behalf” and has left him to take most of the blame for the election loss.
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The Hollywood star was not the only celebrity to put their popularity on the line to help the Harris campaign’s efforts in the 2024 elections.
Actor Ben Stiller teamed up with the Harris campaign for numerous events and Zoom calls. During a rant, Stiller shared, “I’m Jewish and Irish. … I wish I was black. Every white Jewish guy wishes he was black.”
The Zoolander star also made various videos with second gentleman Doug Emhoff to try to court more voters.
Harris was seen in the final stretch of her campaign, doing battleground state rallies with A-list celebrities Beyonce, Katy Perry, Megan Thee Stallion, Oprah Winfrey, and Lizzo.
According to records from the Federal Election Commission, many of Harris’s presidential endorsements appeared to include substantial payments that included $1 million to Winfrey’s production company and $165,000 to Beyonce’s management company.
Following November’s election, numerous celebrities grew quiet, and some, including comedian Sarah Silverman, lamented that “no one” wants to hear from celebrities about politics right now.
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