George Clooney Extols Joe Biden’s Selflessness in Stepping Down from 2024 Presidential Race

Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter

1 September 2024 at 3:16 pm

George Clooney has publicly commended Joe Biden for his altruistic decision to withdraw from the 2024 US presidential race, describing it as an unprecedented act of selflessness. The 62-year-old actor, a dedicated Democrat, expressed his views following Biden’s faltering performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump during a televised debate.

In an opinion piece for the New York Times published in July, Clooney elaborated on his admiration for Biden. He emphasized his affection for the 81-year-old president but stressed that retaining him as the party’s nominee would jeopardize both the presidential election and Democratic control of Congress. Clooney asserted that his perspective is widely shared among senators, congress members, and governors he has conversed with privately.

Addressing the matter at a press conference during the Venice International Film Festival, Clooney stated, “I never had to answer that question before, so I suppose I’ll do it here. The individual deserving of applause is President Biden, who has performed the most selfless act since George Washington. It’s incredibly challenging to relinquish power, as history has repeatedly shown us globally. For Biden to recognize that there might be a better path forward and to step aside for the greater good speaks volumes about his character.”

Clooney continued by underscoring that while the political maneuverings leading to this decision will fade into obscurity, what should endure is the memory of Biden’s selfless act. “All the credit belongs to him for recognizing a better way forward,” Clooney noted, adding that he feels a deep sense of pride regarding the current state of global affairs and optimism about the future.

With Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in as the Democratic nominee, Clooney has thrown his support behind her candidacy.

At the Venice Film Festival, Clooney was promoting his latest project, “Wolfs,” a film about fixers compelled to collaborate, co-starring Brad Pitt. Meanwhile, Pitt’s former partner, Angelina Jolie, attended the festival to promote her new biopic about opera singer Maria Callas. The details of Jolie and Pitt’s divorce, initiated by Jolie in September 2016, remain unresolved.