Ah, Hollywood – where actors know best, or so they think. George Clooney, a long-time Democratic cheerleader, is catching some serious heat from his own party for demanding Joe Biden step aside in the 2024 presidential race. Clooney’s big “we-need-a-new-nominee” moment was plastered across a New York Times op-ed last July, where he proclaimed that “we are not going to win in November with this president.”
And what did he do next? He threw his support behind Kamala Harris’ ill-fated campaign, which ultimately went down in flames. Now, the Democratic camp is left reeling, and they’re looking for someone to blame – cue Clooney, who’s getting a lashing from demoralized Democrats for interfering in the already faltering campaign.
I would like to take a moment to thank George Clooney for shoving the most incompetent candidate down America’s throat to ensure a Trump victory. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/EF1rB3v4i2
— Completely Fed Up (@CompletelyUp) November 6, 2024
The backlash on social media is brutal. Democrats, from activists to journalists, are practically lining up to take potshots at the star. A journalist on X (formerly Twitter) sarcastically thanked Clooney for his “help” in an angry post, while another user added a Batman meme – not the best of Clooney’s roles, let’s be honest – and called for a “talk” with the actor. Even political activists are pointing fingers at him for meddling in the election that ultimately delivered another Trump victory.
America rejected:
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Megan Thee Stallion
John Legend
Oprah Winfrey
Barack Obama
Michelle Obama
Bill Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Usher
Taylor Swift
George Clooney
Ariana Grande
Jamie Lee Curtis
Will I AmAnd choose FREEDOM.
The era of the celebrity… pic.twitter.com/2Xf7BmeSSc
— Rob Smith (@robsmithonline) November 6, 2024
Let’s face it, Clooney’s calls for a new candidate weren’t exactly subtle. He even told Jimmy Kimmel that Biden’s age was the main problem and that Democrats risked not only the White House but also the House and Senate if they didn’t switch gears. According to Clooney, everyone he’d spoken to – every senator, governor, and congressman – supposedly agreed with him in private. They might’ve smiled and nodded at the cocktail parties, but it’s fair to wonder if they were actually on board.
Thank you George Clooney. pic.twitter.com/7XDvSID4bv
— Joshua Hartley (@JHartley2) November 6, 2024
Of course, Donald Trump wasted no time roasting Clooney on Truth Social, calling him a “fake movie actor” and claiming he “never came close to making a great movie.” The former president quipped that Clooney should “get out of politics and go back to television.” It’s classic Trump – why miss a chance to call out a Hollywood elite? And with a comeback victory secured, he can’t resist jabbing at the celebrity liberals who supposedly know better than the voters.
As it turns out, even Clooney’s high-profile endorsement for Harris fell flat. He narrated ads for Vote Common Good in her favor and hosted a fundraising event that brought in a whopping $28 million for Biden. But all that star-studded support didn’t stop voters from turning away from the Democrats. And now, Clooney’s misstep is just another example of Hollywood’s shaky political influence. As NYU Professor Laurence Maslon put it, celebrity endorsements probably do more for the stars themselves than the candidates they back. “Who cares, frankly?” he added, reflecting what many Americans likely think.
It’s almost funny – for years, Hollywood elites like Clooney and De Niro have enjoyed lecturing the rest of us on who we should vote for, throwing “liberal Hollywood” in our faces as if that’s supposed to help. But as Clooney’s miscalculation shows, maybe Hollywood should stick to making movies and leave politics to the people who actually understand what’s at stake for everyday Americans.
