George Clooney's Biden exit plea sparks political backlash
George Clooney faced a wave of criticism after he demanded that Biden withdraw from the presidential race. On 6th November, Donald Trump was announced as the winner of the presidential election in the USA.
In July 2024, the actor from "Ocean's Eleven" published an op-ed in the "New York Times," calling for Biden to step down from the campaign. Shortly after, the 46th President of the USA announced his withdrawal, and Clooney endorsed Kamala Harris as the new Democratic candidate. Following an intense campaign, Donald J. Trump became the 47th President-elect of the United States, securing 295 electoral votes and also winning the popular vote.
Social media users expressed their opinions about Clooney's appeal. A group of political commentators from altNOAA wrote on the platform X (formerly Twitter): "Someone bring me George Clooney. We need to talk...". Journalist Joshua Hartley shared a screenshot of the actor's op-ed and added: "Thank you, George Clooney." Others suggested that Trump should thank Hollywood celebrities, especially Clooney.
Professor Laurence F. Maslon from New York University commented in "The Guardian" on the impact of celebrity endorsements: "Endorsements have always done more for the celebrity than for the endorsed person." He added: "People like George Clooney and Robert De Niro... who cares, honestly?"
Clooney previously raised £23 million for Biden's campaign during a fundraiser. In his op-ed, he criticised Democratic Party leaders for ignoring "every warning sign" regarding the decline in Biden's physical and mental health, claiming that the president cannot win the battle against time. Before the election, the actor again endorsed Kamala Harris in the campaign.
